Professional development workshop for the teaching staff of Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya

A professional development workshop was conducted for the teaching staff of Kalutara Balika Vidyalaya on 24 April 2026 by Mr Chinthaka Chandrakumara, in conjunction with the 85th anniversary celebrations of the school. The programme was organized at the invitation of the Principal and formed part of the institution’s efforts to enhance teacher competencies and professional wellbeing.

Name of the workshop –
අලුත් ඉරක් – පළමු වැඩමුළුව
‘පැටව් එක්ක – සතුටු සිතින්’

The workshop was delivered over three and a half hours and was designed to address both the professional and personal dimensions of effective teaching practice.

Objectives of the Workshop

The primary objective of the workshop was to establish a strong foundation in effective and reflective teaching practices among participants. Specifically, the session focused on developing the following teacher attributes:

Cultivating a teacher who maintains a healthy balance between professional responsibilities and personal well-being, thereby enhancing overall effectiveness.
Promoting the role of a teacher as a facilitator of joyful and meaningful learning experiences for students.
Encouraging teachers to actively listen to students and adopt learner-centered approaches, including minimizing unnecessary academic burden such as excessive homework and assignments.
Enhancing teachers’ awareness of educational disparities and their implications for equitable teaching practices.
Strengthening the capacity of teachers to identify and support students at risk, particularly those facing uncertain educational or social futures.

The workshop provided a reflective platform for teachers to critically examine their current practices and align them with more student-centered, inclusive, and empathetic approaches to teaching. The programme was well received, and it contributed positively to the professional growth and motivation of the participating teachers.