Child-friendly primary schools countrywide - Basil

Five thousand primary schools countrywide will be developed as child friendly schools concurrent to the 1,000 secondary schools programme.

In the first stage of the project 1,783 primary schools will be developed under a programme launched next month, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa addressing the GA's conference held at SLIDA Colombo on July 26.

Minister Rajapaksa said: "The 1,000 secondary schools are re-established and 5,000 primary schools developed to realize knowledge centred development targets as part of making Sri Lanka a global economic hub envisaged by the Mahinda Chinthana future vision.

"Under these programmes students will be provided the foundation to develop their skills. Children who completed primary education successfully entered secondary schools. Therefore, primary school students should be given the opportunity to an education in a happy atmosphere with healthcare and protection.

"When 5,000 primary schools are developed as child friendly schools it is essential to provide basic needs.

It eliminates competition in admissions to prestigious schools" Minister Rajapaksa said.

At the conference held under the patronage of Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa the responsibility of implementing primary school nurturing and development programme was entrusted to the Economic Development Ministry.

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Amaraweera were also present.