Before your first class
What We Expect of Every Eduzone Student
Eduzone by YMBA is a place of serious, free, and respectful learning. These guidelines exist to protect that standard for every student, whether you are a Bhikkhu preparing to share the Dhamma globally, a young professional building your career, or a student stepping into education for the first time. Read these expectations carefully before your first class.
Every student
Academic and practical standards
What you must meet to stay on course and qualify for your certificate of completion.
Attendance
80%
minimum attendance
- 80% minimum
- You must attend at least 80 percent of all scheduled sessions to remain eligible for your certificate.
- Formats
- This applies equally to in-person classes at our Borella centre and live Zoom sessions online.
Homework
- Weekly submissions
- Complete and submit all assigned exercises, speech outlines, and written tasks on time each week.
- Timelines
- Late submissions directly affect your evaluation score. Consistent late work can disqualify you from graduation.
Evaluations
- Live speech tests
- Practical speaking evaluations are conducted for public speaking, English, and leadership modules.
- Full engagement
- You must actively participate in all peer evaluations. Passive observation is not sufficient.
In person
In-person rules
For classes held at Colombo YMBA, Borella.
Mandatory
Attire standards
- Modesty first
- Dress modestly in clean, non-revealing clothing. Choose calm, muted colours that suit a shared academic and spiritual learning space.
- Footwear
- Wear closed shoes or modest sandals inside the Colombo YMBA premises at all times.
Campus
General decorum
10min
early, every session
- Punctuality
- Arrive at least 10 minutes before your session begins. Late entry disrupts the class and affects attendance records.
- Mobile devices
- All phones must be on silent or switched off before entering the classroom. No exceptions.
- Hallways and waste
- Keep noise low in corridors and shared spaces. Use designated bins for all waste. Treat the YMBA premises with the same respect you would give any place of learning and worship.
Every student
Respect in the classroom
High priority
Etiquette toward Venerable Bhikkhus
Respecting monastic members in the classroom
Venerable Bhikkhus study English, public speaking, and leadership at Eduzone for a specific and important purpose: to communicate the Dhamma, the teachings of the Buddha, clearly and confidently to audiences across Sri Lanka and around the world. This is a mission of service. Every student in this classroom, regardless of background, is asked to understand and support that purpose through respectful, considerate conduct.
- Formal address
- Always address monastic clergy as “Venerable” or “Venerable Sir.” Never address a Bhikkhu by first name alone.
- Classroom courtesy
- Stand respectfully when Venerable Bhikkhus enter or leave the classroom. Remain standing until they are seated or signal otherwise.
- Seating priority
- Offer Bhikkhus priority seating, typically at the front of the room. Maintain a quiet, composed presence when they are nearby.
In class
Core lecturers
- Titles
- Address your instructors formally at all times. Use “Mr. Subhan” and “Ms. Sally” unless they invite otherwise.
- Interaction
- Ask questions during the periods your lecturer designates for questions. Follow all instructions closely and promptly, especially during evaluations and practical exercises.
Community
Etiquette toward peers
- Active listening
- Give full, undivided attention when your classmates are delivering speeches or presentations. The classroom is a practice space, and every speaker deserves a genuine audience.
- Feedback
- When giving peer feedback, be honest, specific, and encouraging. Strong, respectful feedback is how everyone in this room improves.
- Privacy of others
- Do not share another student’s name, phone number, photo or messages, or any Bhikkhu’s image, outside the class without their permission. Do not photograph or screenshot classmates, Bhikkhus or lecturers without asking first.
Core value
Inclusive learning
Eduzone welcomes Bhikkhus, youth, professionals, and students from all backgrounds into the same classroom, as equals in the pursuit of knowledge and growth.
- Practise patience, compassion, and genuine humility in every group discussion and practical session.
- Support your fellow students actively, regardless of their background, skill level, or how far they have to go.
Online
Zoom virtual classroom rules
Mandatory rules for all students attending live online sessions.
Entry and identity
5min
early, in the waiting room
- Punctuality
- Join the Zoom waiting room at least 5 minutes before the session begins. Do not arrive after the class has started.
- Screen name
- Set your Zoom display name to your full registered name before joining. This is required for attendance records.
- Duration
- Stay in the session for its full scheduled duration. Leaving early affects your attendance standing.
Video and audio
- Camera on
- Keep your camera on throughout the entire lecture unless your lecturer specifically says otherwise. Cameras off during instruction is not acceptable.
- Mute by default
- Keep your microphone muted when you are not speaking. Unmute only when your lecturer invites you to speak.
- Hand raise
- Use the digital Raise Hand button to signal that you have a question. Do not speak over the lecturer or interrupt.
Digital respect
- Relevant chat
- The Zoom chat function is for course-related questions and contributions only. Off-topic messages or side conversations in the chat are not permitted.
- No multitasking
- Give your full attention to the class. Browsing, gaming, or doing other work during a live session is disrespectful to your lecturer and your peers.
- Monastic honour
- Extend the same respectful courtesy to Venerable Bhikkhus online as you would in person. Use their correct title in chat and maintain dignified communication throughout.
- Recording
- Eduzone may record live sessions for the students of that class. Do not record, screenshot or redistribute a session yourself without permission. If you have a concern about being recorded, tell your lecturer before the session. See the Privacy Policy.
Strict enforcement
Zero tolerance
To protect this classroom as a safe and focused place of learning, the following violations will result in immediate removal from all Eduzone programmes and disqualification from certification.
- Prohibited
- Harassment, discriminatory language, mockery, or disrespectful comments toward any student, Bhikkhu, or lecturer, in person or online. Sharing another person’s personal details, photos or private messages without their permission is treated the same way.
- WhatsApp groups
- Off-topic messages, commercial promotions, spam, or any unauthorised content in Eduzone’s WhatsApp communication channels.
- Consequence
- Any confirmed violation results in immediate removal from Eduzone and cancellation of all certificate eligibility.
Visiting
Getting to Colombo YMBA, Borella
Colombo YMBA
70, Y.M.B.A D. S. Senanayake Mawatha, Borella, Colombo 08 (00800) See the map and contact detailsTravel directions
- By bus
- The YMBA is directly accessible via major bus routes stopping at Borella junction along D. S. Senanayake Mawatha.
- By train
- The nearest railway stations are Cotta Road and Baseline Road. From either station, take a short tuk-tuk ride or a 10-minute walk to the YMBA.
- Taxi and private vehicle
- Ask your driver for “YMBA Borella” near the Borella junction. On-site parking is limited, so arrive early if you are driving.
Access and sign-in
- At reception
- All enrolled students must sign in at the main reception desk before entering the premises. Carry your course registration confirmation or a valid ID. Please arrive with enough time to sign in before your class begins.
Quick answers
Student Conduct: Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to the questions Eduzone students and Venerable Bhikkhus ask most often before their first class at Colombo YMBA, Borella.
You must attend at least 80 percent of all scheduled sessions to remain eligible for the course completion certificate. This applies to in-person classes and live Zoom sessions. Join on time, and notify a lecturer in advance if you cannot attend.
Yes. Homework and practical assignments are a core part of every programme. Assessment is continuous, so submitted work and live evaluations together determine whether a student completes the programme successfully.
Clean, modest and respectful attire is required for in-person sessions at the Borella centre. Venerable Bhikkhus attend in robes as usual.
Join the waiting room at least 5 minutes early with your full registered name as your display name, keep your camera on throughout the lecture unless your lecturer says otherwise, and keep your microphone muted unless you are invited to speak. Use the Raise Hand button or the chat for questions, and do not record or redistribute a session without permission.
Bhikkhus are offered seating priority and addressed respectfully. Students should follow standard Sri Lankan Buddhist etiquette and avoid any conduct that would cause discomfort to the Venerable members of the class.
Eduzone runs in-person classes at the Colombo YMBA headquarters, 70, Y.M.B.A D. S. Senanayake Mawatha, Borella, Colombo 08. The building is reachable by bus and three-wheeler from Borella junction, and students sign in at reception before proceeding to the allocated classroom.
Eduzone operates a zero-tolerance policy. Harassment, discriminatory language, mockery or disrespect toward any student, Bhikkhu or lecturer, and off-topic, commercial or spam messages in Eduzone's WhatsApp channels, lead to immediate removal from all programmes and loss of certificate eligibility.
These rules apply to every Eduzone student. Ready to apply?
Apply for a course