Sri Lankan link hailed as key step for learning

Omagh’s Loreto Convent Grammar School has formed a unique partnership with a school in Sri Lanka.  The link, believed to be the first of its kind, is aimed at enhancing sporting leadership skills school links.

Sri Lankan British Council representatives, along with those from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Education and Cultural affairs and the teaching profession, have visited the Omagh school, which is linked to Berrevaerts College, Sri Lanka.

The Partnership was established by the Western Education and Library Board and is co-ordinated through the Youth Sports Trust and the British Council.  Joseph Martin, WELB Chief Executive, said: “The schools in both countries have taken an important step forward in promoting learning in an international setting.  It is wonderful to see two schools working in tandem for the benefit of the young people in our care.”

Pupils from both schools have established cross-curricular links on four identified themes.  They also have to accept the responsibility for setting up sporting programmes, hoping eventually to achieve their Gold Dream Team Award.

Christine McCann, Youth Sport co-ordinator Loreto, said the partnership had been so successful that a second WELB school, Erne Integrated College, in Enniskillen, has been invited to take part in the programme.

Pictured at a visit to the Sports Council for Northern Ireland by Sri Lankan representatives are John News, Community Sport Manager, SCNI, Christine McCann, Loreto Grammar School, Omagh, Brian McCormick, WELB, Ryan Cunningham, University of Ulster and Eamon McCartan, Chief Executive, Sports Council for Northern Ireland.