Our evillage.

Batuwangala evillage

Informal discussions with rural community leaders and youth have revealed that they are eager to establish ICT facilities in their villages and to share in the fruits of global changes in the field of education, technology and socio economic development.The E village concept has been developed as a response to some of the issues. E village programs are  launched by chosen schools with the help of the Ministry of Education. The Secondary Education Modernization Project (SEMP) developed the idea of establishing E villages in selected schools. The Batuwangala Evillage Project realizes that the changes envisaged through the E Village concept take time and careful planning.

Current needs of students and the community, available infrastructure, socio-economic conditions of the community etc need to be taken into account when planning a project of this nature. Our overall mission is to reduce the inequality in accessing ICT services and technology for sustainable development between urban and rural communities. We would like to define sustainable development in line with current thinking as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ Thus, we are conscious of the fact that ICT and technology is but a tool to improve human welfare and wellbeing.

Human welfare and wellbeing are constituted of other factors such as the environment, fair economic systems, the self determination of individuals and communities and strong community and family relationships.

Issues to be address…….

The issues that we have identified below describe the context within which the E Village project functions.

To access ICT and new technology a working knowledge of English is necessary.  Thus, improving English literacy has to be part of this project.  At the same time, changes are taking place within the sector with the use of vernacular languages which also need to be considered and strengthened.Not only English and ICT,But also Tamil,mathematics,And Science.We dont belive that teaching ICTs will oars the children to the banks,or will be a filled one with knowledge.What we belive is ICT is a tool.we transform the thinking in to a state where they can manipulate tools for self,and sustain development.

02) Literacy difficulties

Sri Lanka boasts of high literacy rates; however, the level of literacy in language and mathematics, technology that is required for making use of ICT and technology is not present among most people who would be considered literate.  This is due to disparities in the quality of education with many rural children deprived of accessing quality language, technology, science and math skills due to inadequate trained teachers.  Batuwangala school for example has been struggling without  science or math teachers for many years.

03) Inadequate communication and transport facilities

Infrastructure is a pre requisite for ICT accessibility.  For instance, the school does not have a telephone connection.  The internet connection that came with the E Village project is slow and frequently disrupted.On the other hand accessing speedy connections for internet is still a dreem.Some times the technology is cost full and what we can reach is less.Roads,Public transport systems has to be up lift.It is still one have to travel more than 3 hours from Galle to Batuwangala.Utilities have to be developed.As an example we may consider roads,Hospitals,etc still to be come forwed.Still the above mentioned are not done.

04) Limited livelihood options

Most people in the area are dependant on the tea plantations for their livelihood. Many own small plots of land on which they grow tea and sell to the big factories dotting the area.  Fluctuations in the industry affect people’s livelihoods directly as the prices for bought leaf are market driven and change constantly.  The environment is also a huge factor; droughts or floods can change the conditions drastically in the area. This has an impact on education as families cannot afford to pay the extras demanded of additional classes, equipment or even transport for children to participate in educational activities.

It times of economic hardship families will not priorities ICT if it means an additional economic burden.