Czechs assist pre-school development

From Sinniah Gurunathan, Trincomalee correspondent

A Czech humanitarian and development agency has completed a pilot training project for pre-school teachers in the Trincomalee district and also published a pre-school teacher training manual which is to be used in the district with the permission of the Education Ministry.

People-in-Need (PIN), head of mission Matej Novak and Eastern Provincial Ministry Education Secretary R. Thiakalingam handed over certificates to the first group of fifteen pre-school teachers who completed the three month pilot training course.

The ceremony was held in St. Mary's College, Trincomalee and the new manual was tested during the training course, PIN officials said. The idea of training pre-school teachers arose at the beginning of 2006 when PIN handed over six newly built pre-schools replacing those destroyed in the tsunami.

Addressing those present at the ceremony Mr. Novak said, “At that time we discovered that many communities were lacking basic knowledge about pre-school education and methods. Though the Education Ministry administers pre-schools, they lack the money to pay salaries and provide basic training as well as essential teaching materials and facilities. Children's mothers are volunteer teachers in many pre-schools,” he said.

“A pilot training course is very important for the ongoing development of the pre-school sector in Sri Lanka,” project co-ordinator Ms P.Prathanjani said.

PIN has been working in Sri Lanka since January 2005 to assist people in the Trincomalee district affected by the tsunami. PIN is also focusing on education in addition to reconstruction projects and renovation of damaged coastal areas with funds from the public, a PIN official said.