Early Childhood Education workshop provides practical training
View(s):A transformative four-day workshop on the National Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework (ECECF) was recently conducted to advance early childhood education in Sri Lanka under the leadership of Thilaka Jayasundera, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, and the guidance of Prof Prasad Sethunga, Director General of the National Institute of Education (NIE).
The workshop, organised by the NIE’s Department of Early Childhood Development and Primary Education, Director Kumudumalee De Silva and Assistant Lecturer Sakunthala Ranasinghe received essential technical and financial support from UNICEF Sri Lanka, with contributions from UNICEF Chief of Education, Erin Tarnner, and Programme Officer, Shashikala Rathnayake.
The NIE invited stakeholders across the country in early childhood education, care, and development to join this comprehensive training, which emphasised play-based methodologies central to the ECECF. This framework, developed by the NIE, promotes a holistic, child-centered approach, encouraging nurturing care and a supportive environment for young learners.
Trainers from the Asia Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) led the sessions, delivering intensive, practical training that focused on building a culture of play in preschools. Participants gained hands-on insights into fostering creativity, social-emotional development, and cognitive growth through engaging play-based activities tailored to preschool settings.
A major objective of this workshop was to establish a skilled trainer workforce at the provincial level to empower preschool teachers across Sri Lanka. Nearly 40 Provincial Early Childhood Directors and Development Officers attended, gaining expertise to implement play-based teaching approaches.
Prof Sethunga expressed the NIE’s plans to expand this target group, inviting experienced teachers from provincial levels as trainers in further workshops. This expansion aims to ensure the effective nationwide implementation of the curriculum framework.
Participants highlighted the workshop’s practicality and effectiveness in shaping a play-oriented culture within Sri Lanka’s preschool education. This initiative marks a significant step forward in creating an inclusive, dynamic early learning environment that fosters children’s holistic development, preparing them for future success.
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