February 02, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has officially launched the first phase in the development of a National Policy on Early Childhood Education and Development, marking a significant move towards improving the foundation of education for young children across the country.
The initiative was introduced at a special event held at the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, with the participation of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Namal Sudarshana.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya highlighted the critical need for a comprehensive national policy on early childhood development that would be applicable not only to the central government but also to provincial authorities.
She pointed out that the current lack of a unified policy framework for early childhood education had led to inconsistencies in the quality and accessibility of services provided to young children across the nation.
The discussions during the event focused on creating a cohesive policy that could bring together the various early childhood education institutions operating across Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the new policy must be holistic, encompassing a wide range of elements, from teacher training and guidelines to salary structures and recruitment exams.
She also stressed the importance of ensuring that the policy is integrated with the ongoing education reforms that the government is planning to introduce.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, a dedicated committee will be formed.
This committee will be responsible for drafting the necessary policy documents and preparing an integrated policy statement, which will later be formalised within a legal framework.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also underscored the importance of safeguarding the well-being of preschool children, particularly during after-school hours, evenings, and teacher holidays.
She emphasised that ensuring the safety and security of young learners must be a priority within the new policy.
The event was also attended by K.D.R. Olga, Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Nalaka Kaluwawa, Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, and a number of other senior officials, all of whom expressed their commitment to the successful development and implementation of the policy.
