Following the Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop held in June, the Skills Enhancement of Rural English Language Teachers (SERELT Stage 2) programme moved into its first phase of field-level implementation on 14^th August 2026, with the rollout commencing in the Kalutara and Hambantota districts.

As part of the first day of the rollout, the SIHL team visited Kalutara Muslim Vidyalaya in the morning and the Teacher Training Centre in Hambantota in the afternoon to deliver the newly validated Digital Literacy for Teaching (DLT) module and conduct the programme’s baseline survey. A total of 39 Rural English Language Teachers participated in Kalutara, while 26 teachers participated in Hambantota. The PGIE team also visited the two districts on the same day to engage with the teachers and support the commencement of the SERELT Stage 2 course rollout.

The DLT module, introduced and validated during the SERELT Stage 2 Training of Trainers, has been developed as a self-learning module to strengthen teachers’ digital competencies. Drawing on the five key areas of digital competence identified through the European Union’s DigComp and DigCompEdu frameworks, the module is designed to support teachers in using digital technologies confidently, effectively, and safely in their teaching and learning practices. During the field visit, teachers were introduced to the module through a introductory session, including a practical group activity.

The sessions were met with strong enthusiasm and participation from the teachers, reflecting their interest in both SERELT Stage 2 and the introduction of digital literacy into their continuous professional development.

The rollout represents an important transition from the preparation and training of Teacher Trainers to the implementation of the SERELT Stage 2 cascade model. Through this approach, trained Teacher Trainers will transfer their knowledge and skills to Rural English Language Teachers, strengthening their teaching competencies both in conventional and digital learning approaches. The enhanced capacity of these teachers is expected to contribute to improved teaching practices and, ultimately, better learning outcomes for their students.

With the rollout now underway in Kalutara and Hambantota, SERELT Stage 2 will next extend to Nuwara Eliya, followed by Ampara and Batticaloa, as the programme continues to expand its reach across rural communities. The experience and learning from this first phase will help inform the continued rollout and strengthen the programme as it reaches more teachers and students across the country.