Improving English Language Teaching in Sri Lankan Schools: Past Pupils’ Contribution

Abstract

This paper presents the finding of a study that investigated the relationship between the contribution of alumni of schools towards the revival and promotion of English language teaching and the learning process in Sri Lankan schools. The main objective of this endeavour is to find out the impact of policies in obtaining the contributions of the past pupils. A non-experimental cross-sectional research design was used in gathering data. Primary and secondary data, focus group discussions and interviews were used to gather information from past pupils in three provinces in Sri Lanka i.e. Western, Uva and Central provinces. The instrument was tested with sixty –two past pupils of ten schools of 1AB and 1C status. The sample includes Government Schools, Semi-Government schools and Government approved Private schools. According to the focus group discussions that were carried out, the voluntary services of the past pupils is turned down or discouraged by certain administrators of schools citing clauses in circulars issued by the educational authorities. Hence this study on Improving English Language Teaching in Sri Lankan Schools: Past Pupils’ Contribution is aimed in addressing the related concerns and suggesting practical guidelines to mitigate the issue. Obtaining the voluntary services of the past pupils professionally and amicably; revising the circulars to obtain a better service from the past pupils, and encouraging the past pupils' Associations to function independently while building up a better rapport with the administration of the school in addition to providing the School Principals with the necessary training to work with the past pupils are suggested as a part of recommendations in this paper. This paper serves a part of the initial purpose of the main research of which the Researcher is a team member.