Ceylon School Board May Select Students to Teach English, Science

A program to recruit about 100 American graduate students to teach in Ceylonese schools has been proposed by that country's Board of Education. The plan calls for graduate students from England, Germany, and Russia as well as the United States to teach language and science courses at the secondary level in Ceylon.

There will be no affiliation between the Ceylonese program and the Peace Corps. Applicants will be asked to teach for only one year--the Corps will probably require two years--and the selection will be made by the Ceylonese School Board.

"In assuming responsibility for the selection of the students, we also assume some of the responsibility for their conduct in Ceylon," Victor Cherubim, Ceylonese coordinator of the program, pointed out. "If there are any duds, it will be our fault," he said.

Stresses Quality

But Cherubim isn't expecting any "duds." His program calls for an unspecified number of qualified teachers; and Ceylon's concern is not with the quantity of teachers, but rather with their ability, he stated.

The program, which would start this September, would include a summer school orientation program, residence in Ceylonese homes, an opportunity to study at a Ceylon university at that nation's expense, and an optional second year of teaching.

Cherubim said he hopes that about 10 Harvard students will be selected for the plan. He noted that application blanks, now available at 1145 Massachusetts Ave., must be submitted by April 12.