In July, Intel, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, launched Sri Lanka’s first Classmate PC Lab at the Sri Rahula Balika Maha Vidyalaya in Malambe as part of Intel’s World Ahead Program. The lab was launched following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed between the Education Ministry and Intel, which aims to enhance teaching and learning processes through the use of state-of-the-art technology.

Intel’s goal is to extend affordable PC access, develop PCs tailored to local needs, drive critical connectivity, cultivate sustainable local capabilities, and provide the technology education needed to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

The Classmate PC Lab was officially inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha, in the presence of officials from Intel, the Ministry of Education, and the principal, teachers and students of Sri Rahula Balika Maha Vidyalaya. Initially, 25 PCs will be deployed in the classroom. For teachers, the CMPC will go a long way in easing the integration of technology into the classroom, which is a necessity for the 21st century. Intel has plans for the CMPC project to be deployed in 20 schools, with a launch in Kandy scheduled for the near future. A total of 5,000 students are expected to benefit from this project by the end of the year.

Susil Premajayantha, Honourable Minister of Education said, “On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I thank Intel for implementing the Classmate PC donation project in Sri Lanka under its Global ‘World Ahead’ Education Programme. This novel initiative will certainly help in revolutionising education in Sri Lanka, opening up the classroom environment to the limitless possibilities of the world wide web of educational information. Access to this vast source of information will undoubtedly engender a thirst for knowledge in students and prepare them for the challenges of the future.”