Gateway_Annual_Review_2020

Future ready courses offered by the School of Computing, prepare Gateway Consultancy learners for the exciting world of computing and technology. They are specifically designed for children aged four years upwards, to Gateway Consultancy Services provides ICT based advisory school leavers, adults and professionals. services as well as customer software development services, both externally as well as internally, to the parent group. GCS' flagship The ability to communicate effectively provides a great advantage product, School Online that won the National Best Quality Software not only through secondary and tertiary education but also Award in the category of Education and Training consecutively, for with future career prospects and growth. The Language Centre 3 years, is used by all Gateway schools. endeavours to develop language and skills, taught via traditional lessons, blended learning and e-learning. Students are also Related organisations within the Gateway Group encouraged to express themselves through art. The School of Speech and Drama aims to develop communication and creative skills through performing arts. Students are not only exposed to a wide range of literature and its appreciation but encouraged to develop their confidence in reading, speaking and presentation skills. Seven Cs by Gateway Skills for Life Seven Cs by Gateway is a group of learning centres for the little Skills for Life is an organisation dedicated to workforce ones, where the 7Cs – Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, development that delivers valuable training and assessments in Communication, Culture, Character, and Cheerfulness, are three important areas: English language proficiency, career skills integrated into the learning experience of the child to nurture and (soft skills) and ICT training. Skills for Life holds the license for encourage them to develop greater capacities for grit, resilience, the Accelerated Skills Acquisition Programme (ASAP) that was empathy, altruism and the ability to respect and work with others. designed and developed by USAID to develop soft skills of school Seven Cs centres offer Kindergarten, Day Care, and Activity leavers and the young adults. In Sri Lanka, Skills for Life makes Centre facilities. The Activity Centres incorporate programmes a substantial contribution to the capacity building of Government delivered at BigSpark by Gateway. institutions, private organisations, civil societies and all citizens. As an authorised centre of Cambridge English Language Assessment, Pearson Edexcel and NCC Education UK, candidates are also able to sit examinations of these prestigious awarding bodies through Skills for Life, at reasonable and affordable rates. KOPS testIT, Gateway College Annual Review 2020 KOPS – The Kingdom of Preschoolers is a much sought after name testIT, also referred to as ICDL Sri Lanka, is responsible for the for little ones, since its inception in 2011. KOPS was brought International Computer Driving License (ICDL) qualifications under the Gateway Group’s wings in 2019. Located in Nawala, the in Sri Lanka. Supported by Governments, education systems, ambiance of KOPS reminds every little child of how special they international organisations and commercial corporations alike, are; where kids are encouraged to be kids. The programme offered ICDL is considered to have a significant positive impact on is child-centred and flexible, catering to the individual needs and productivity, efficiency and employability. A new suite of 45 stand- interests of the child. alone modules were introduced recently providing an opportunity for everyone – student to senior citizens – to upskill themselves with digital skills for the future. Each ICDL module consists of practical and up-to-date skills, which are validated by a test that leads to internationally-recognised certification. 147

Gateway College Future Annual Review 2020 150 Looking to the future 148

Gateway College Annual Review 2020 Non-academicFuture 149

Looking to the future Despite many anxieties and uncertainties, the year that has In preparation for the hybrid model of teaching and learning, passed saw more innovation than ever before. Science made major the school has invested in high quality, interactive displays with advancements, having produced vaccines in less than nine months; multitouch capabilities, which will allow students to work easily education, too, has seen a significant transformation. 2020 set a in pairs, collaborate effortlessly and share their work with the course for change. Vaccines for COVID-19 have been produced by class. 2021 promises to be an exciting year for students as they countries that boast very different systems. However, all countries come back to classrooms with powerful digital learning tools and had the same objective resulting in equal benefit to all of humanity. resources. In education we have also seen the need to be alert to diverse systems and embrace best practices from all parts of the world. Recognised by Sri Lanka Telecom as EdTech Specialist Schools, all the Gateway Colleges are gearing up for another year of In this spirit, the Gateway Group has signed up with the Swedish teaching and learning enhanced by the effective use of technology. EdTech company Dugga Assessment to incorporate a digital The support from SLT as an internet service provider as well assessment platform to facilitate the teaching and learning process. as a collaborator in education has been phenomenal. Providing This platform will enable the school to conduct digital tests, exams, technology and ICT infrastructure to every classroom and every home exams, digital lessons and assignments, providing user student, no matter what their learning styles may be, is a mission friendly yet advanced technology. that unites our organisations and constantly drives us forward. Identified by Microsoft as a Centre of Excellence, Gateway College While the academic programme continued uninterrupted in the is determined to continually challenge the bounds of known year 2020, it was sports and co-curricular activities which were teaching. The school is committed to the continued training of all disrupted the most. While the school facilitated as many activities staff; and with over one hundred MIE experts currently teaching as was possible, it was certainly less than what would have taken in the network of schools, new and exciting teaching and learning place in any other year. Therefore in 2021, the school has plans approaches will be utilised in lessons, both physical and virtual. to enhance its sports programme and is pleased to announce that the grounds in Kandy will be ready in the early months of 2021. Academic work continued very smoothly in 2020 despite the Additionally, work on the sports facility in Seeduwa is underway interruptions that occurred due to a country-wide lockdown, which and will continue until completion. was enforced twice. In the New Year, the school has plans to function using a blended approach, which will see students meet The construction of a new building is something that Gateway in school on certain days and work from home on others. This College Colombo will see during the year 2021. This multistorey would minimise the risk of exposure while still allowing students space, utilised for academic activities, will include designated to meet with teachers and peers as they continue their learning subject rooms. journey. Gateway College has, from its inception, emphasised the importance of human interaction as a key component in life-long Some may step into 2021 cautiously, others will go in “all guns learning. This year will be no different as the school aims to blazing” and still others will rise to meet the New Year, secure prioritise student-teacher interactions. in the knowledge that the challenges of 2020 were courageously overcome and the trials that await will not bring them down. Future The unstinted support received from multiple individuals and organisations during the past months, assures us that the Gateway Colleges will fearlessly Brave the Present and Rise to the Future. Gateway College Annual Review 2020 150

Future Gateway College 151 Annual Review 2020

152 Gateway College Future Annual Review 2020



Gateway College  Annual Review 2020  8

Gateway College Annual Review 2020  9

  Gateway College Colombo Gateway College Dehiwala 185, Koswatta Road, 285/1, Gal Vihara Road, Gateway College Rajagiriya Hill Street, Dehiwala. Annual Review 2020 Phone: +94 11 288 8288/ 288 8280 Phone: +94 11 575 7234/ 575 7235 Fax: +94 11 288 8282 Fax: +94 11 271 6901 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Gateway College Ratmalana Gateway College Kandy No 4, Telawela Road, 80, Wariyapola Sri Sumangala Mawatha, Ratmalana Asgiriya, Kandy. Phone: +94 11 261 0061/ 262 5394 Phone: +94 81 220 0300/ 220 0206 Fax: +94 11 263 3812 Fax: +94 81 220 5604 email: [email protected] email: [email protected] www.gatewaycollege.lk Gateway College Negombo 62, Negombo Road, Kurana, Katunayake. Phone: +94 31 222 7772/ 222 7722 Fax: +94 31 222 7878 email: [email protected] 10