Early childhood development program in focus

Clean Sri Lanka – STEP UP’ National Early Childhood Development Programme Launched

The “Safe Childhood- Creative Future” Clean Sri Lanka: STEP UP national early childhood development programme was officially launched at the Temple Trees under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Training, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The program is designed to introduce formal quality standards for early childhood development centres and to organize national training programmes to enhance the professional skills of early childhood educators.

In line with the government’s vision of “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life,” this national initiative is carried out in collaboration with several institutions, including the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

With support from the Health Promotion Bureau and UNICEF, learning tools and specialized resource kits designed to foster 10 core values in children were distributed to 900 early childhood development centres as part of the program.

The event was attended by Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr. Nalinda Jayathissa, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Colombo District MP Dr. Najith Indika, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumaranayake, and Senior Additional Secretary (Finance & Economic Affairs) G.M.R.D. Aponsu, Additional Secretary to the President, S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as several provincial governors.

A large group of early childhood educators, including preschool teachers from early childhood development centres across the country, also participated in the event.