Early childhood development programs to be streamlined

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Ministry will streamline various early childhood development programs as many of these programs have not borne the desired results and are not in keeping with the child’s mentality, Child Development and Women’s Empowerment Minister Tissa Karaliyadda said. Many Government and Non Government Organizations are conducting early childhood development programs.

Under these initiatives all early childhood development programs such as Montessori education activities will be brought upto national level standards.

The Children Secretariat of the Child Development and Women Empowerment Ministry will formulate the national policy standards for early childhood development.

The Ministry has taken these measures following recent discussions between Ministry officials and representatives of several organizations who are engaging in early childhood development activities.

Before implementing the national level standards the Children Secretariat will form a network of organizations which are in the early childhood development sector. The Children Secretariat will act as a linking hub while maintaining a data base. The Minister said that the international criteria relevant the child development sector can be used as guidelines.

“When formulating early childhood development standards, attention will be drawn to the Sri Lankan context though we consider international standards. Climatic conditions, Childrens’ habits, weather conditions and other factors will be considered.

For instance a Montessori building is constructed in the hill country will not be suitable for dry zone. Therefore, the standard that are suitable to us will be applied,” Minister Karaliyadda said.