‘Preschool education enriched with knowledge and ability’

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Preschool education paves the way for creating an educated citizen, who is enriched with knowledge and ability, Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda said.

He said that such persons, who had received quality preschool education, would drive the country forward with their capabilities gained through education. These persons have been enriched with new ideas and they would find new ways. They are the very people who would solve unsolved problems, thus opening new chapters, Minister Karaliyadda added.

The minister said so at a ceremony when he opened a newly constructed preschool building at Thirthakari in Mullaitivu recently.

Minister Karaliyadda said that a quality preschool education provides a solid foundation for a child’s entire academic career. Therefore, preschool education must be qualitatively solid and systematic. Therefore, the Child Development and Women’s Affairs Ministry is establishing preschools countrywide. Well qualified preschool teachers are being attached to these preschools.

The Thirthakari preschool had been constructed at a cost of Rs 2.5 million under the Piyawara* Preschools Development Project. Under the Piyawara project, preschools are being established in war ridden areas for students who had been badly affected by LTTE terrorism. The construction process was undertaken by the Army’s 59 Brigade in Mullaitive, with financial assistance from Hemas Group. So far five preschools have been constructed in the North and East under the Piyawara project. Two more preschools would be constructed this year too for war affected children.

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and Lake House Editorial Director Seelarathne Senarath participated at the event.