The five-year project from 2016 - 2020 is implemented with the aim of enhancing equitable access to ECD services while improving its quality.
The Early Childhood Development (ECD) project, implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, was held March 01 at Water's Edge in Battaramulla.
The government, in its development strategy, has recognized the importance of investing in early childhood care and development to ensure a safe, protective and enabling environment for children below the age of 5, by improving access to health, nutrition and the quality of care and development.
According to the Minister of Women and Child Affairs Chandrani Bandara, the quality early childhood education is a mandatory factor which has a direct influence towards the development of a country. A good foundation in early childhood education has an impact as it is these children who will become decision makers in future and they can give a better start to the next generation.
The International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank has shown their interest to mobilize its funds in this sector and the Government last year entered in to an agreement with IDA to obtain financial assistance of US$ 50million to support the ECD project.
The Project will mainly support the improvement of ECD facilities, provision of teacher-learning materials, and the training of ECD teachers, teacher assistants, and trainers. It will also provide some support for activities aimed at improving the health and nutritional status of children enrolled in ECD centers.
In Sri Lanka there are around 17,500 early childhood development centers, which are staffed by around 29,350 teachers. This project will focus on around 6,000 ECD centers, which need assistance and improvement. The primary beneficiaries of this project will be the children of the country.
The objectives of this project are expected to meet during next 5 years with the support of the Project Management Unit, the Child Secretariat, and the officials from all districts and provinces and also from the NGOs.
State Minister of Women and Child Affairs Vijayakala Maheswaran, Secretary to the Ministry Chandrani Senaratne, Director of the project Dr. Ravi Nanayakkara and the World Bank's Country Director in Sri Lanka Françoise Clottes also were present at the inauguration.
