Australia, UNICEF open new school
Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie opened Kilinochchi Maha
Vidyalayam at a ceremony recently. The school has 2,000 students.
The school was funded by Australia and built in partnership with
UNICEF.
Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie opening the school |
Australia is contributing Rs 1 billion (A$10 million) to rebuild 23
schools in the Northern Province. The new schools will serve up to
12,000 children.
Addressing the gathering the High Commissioner said: "The Australian
government is pleased to be able to make such a significant contribution
to the lives of children and families in Kilinochchi. These buildings
will help the community to continue to rebuild."
"We are thankful to Australia for their contribution to improve
education in Sri Lanka," said UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative Reza
Hossaini. "We are also grateful for the partnership between Australia,
the Education Ministry and UNICEF."
"After the war, we used to study under the trees, but now we have a
new school," said Kouthika, a student of the Kilinochchi school.
Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam which was damaged during the conflict, is
now home to 24 new classrooms, an open air theatre and an auditorium.
Mudie said: "Physical damage to schools is among the most disastrous
effects of conflict. It destroys not only a familiar and important part
of the local community, but can affect children's educational experience
for many years. The newly constructed buildings will provide a better
learning environment, with larger classrooms and improved facilities."
The school's principal, A. Pangayatselvan who has seen his school
undergo a rapid transformation expressed gratitude to Australia and
UNICEF for providing the buildings.
In addition to funding the reconstruction of the school, Australia
has also funded teachers at the school to be trained in child- centred
teaching methodologies, a proven way to help children improve their
learning outcomes.
"The substantial funding by Australia is not limited to construction
of school buildings. Australia has played an equally important role in
improving the quality of teaching and learning through the expansion of
the Child Friendly Approach," Hossaini said.
UNICEF piloted the Child Friendly Approach in 1,500 schools around
the country.
Australia has worked in partnership with UNICEF in Sri Lanka since
the mid 1990s.
UNICEF's support to education in Sri Lankan centres on advocating for
quality approaches to learning and teaching, promoting peace education
and social cohesion and ensuring that vulnerable and out of school
children have opportunities to learn.
The A$10 million funding school reconstruction is part of Australia's
development cooperation programme with Sri Lanka, which will total over
A$40 million in 2012-13.
Australian development assistance focuses primarily on health,
education and sustainable economic development, with programmes located
in lagging regions across the country. The opening was attended by local
officials, parents, teachers and students. |