Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Dr. Namal Sudarshana announced in a special statement that the government is implementing a comprehensive, free national level teacher training programme for all preschool teachers across Sri Lanka to transform the early childhood education sector.
Jointly implemented by the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development and the National Institute of Education (NIE), the initiative aims to enforce a national preschool policy, register preschools, introduce a structured curriculum framework, and enhance teachers’ professional competencies.
The multi-phased rollout utilizes 108 national-level master trainers and 556 provincial-level trainers to train approximately 35,000 preschool teachers nationwide, with each teacher allocated 10 days of training. Operating in coordination with Provincial Councils and local authorities, the programme has already commenced across eight provinces, with the Sabaragamuwa Province scheduled to begin on November 11. Additionally, special provisions are being formulated to support educational needs and facilities for children with special needs. (Newswire)