Early childhood centres to be set up in East

Rafik JALALDEEN

Save the Children, Japan will set up 25 Early Childhood Care and Development centres (ECCD) in Trincomalee, in cooperation with Save the Children, Sri Lanka costing Rs.28 million. The project was funded by the Japan Platform (JPF).

Save the Children has identified 25 locations in Muttur, Seruwila and Echalanpattu divisions of Trincomalee district where people have been recently resettled. Semi-permanent ECD Centres (pre schools), together with toilets and water facilities will be provided under this project for over-800 children annually.

These ECD Centres will be equipped with indoor and outdoor play materials, furniture and stationery for the children and teachers, sources said.

Training workshops will also be conducted for 50 ECD teachers to ensure the quality of the early childhood education.

Besides, a supplementary feeding programme has also been designed for children to engage in play and learning.

"Save the Children is working closely with the Divisional Secretariats of Muttur, Seruwila and Echalanpattu to implement the project", sources added.

"Save the Children Japan is happy to help the children in the East to receive quality pre-school education as we believe this is the most important years of a children's lives.

The first few years of life, especially those from 3 to 5 are crucial because that is when children develop their physical and emotional capacities and language skills, essentially this is the foundation of all learning," said Project Manager Save the Children, Japan Shunsuke Yamamoto.

The ECD Centres will be completed and handed over to the children in September, when the new school term starts.

Each ECD Centre will be managed by an ECD Management Committee, which will be comprised of teachers, parents and community leaders.