STATUS
OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE
AND DEVELOPMENT
IN SRI LANKA
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT
IN SRI LANKA
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The Children’s Secretariat is the Focal point of the Early
Childhood Care and Development in Sri Lanka. It comes
under the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs.
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Children’s Secretariat developed the National policy on Early
Childhood Care and Development in 2004.
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Under this National ECCD policy, Children’s Secretariat,
promoting Early Childhood care and Development 0 to 5
years of children.
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Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health has the ECCD
strategic plan to promote Health, Nutritional Status and
psychosocial development of children.
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Ministry of Education has the action plan for 5 to 8 children.
VISION AND MISSION OF THE ECCD
NATIONAL POLICY
Vision of the ECCD National policy
Ensure the right of every Sri Lanka child to start life
healthy, be nurtured in a safe, caring and stimulating
environment that enables him or her to be physically
healthy, mentally alert, emotionally secure, socially
competent and intellectually able to learn.
Mission of the ECCD National policy
To attain optimal survival , growth and development
of all Sri Lankan children by providing a safe, caring
and conducive environment in the home and other
settings, well supported by a comprehensive and
integrated system of early childhood care and
Development services.
ARES OF ACTION
1.
Build knowledge and skills of care Caregivers to
promote Optimal Child Survival, Growth and
Development.
2.
Improve and Expand Training Opportunities for
Service Providers.
3.
Community based Child Development Centers.
4.
Children with Special needs.
THE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
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Activities related to Early Childhood Care and
Development is multifaceted.
Accordingly, over the years different Ministries
and Department have shared responsibility for
providing intervention programmes to promote
early Childhood Care and Development.
There are very active non government
organizations in this field as well. Therefore, we
have established strong management structure.
NATIONAL COORDINATION
ON ECCD
COMMITTEE
Ministry of Child Development and Women’s
Affaires, Ministry of Health, Mini. of Education,
Mini of Social welfare, Mini. Of Provincial
council and local government, Mini. of Defense ,
Mini. Of Indigenous medicine,
 Representative of relevant donor agencies
 9 members from 9 provincial councils.
 NGO and private sector in field ECCD.
 25 members for National committee.
 There are several sub committees under the
National ECCD committee.

PROVINCIAL, DISTRICT AND DIVISIONAL
SYSTEM
Provincial co-ordination committee on ECCD
 (09 provinces)
 15 members for the provincial committee.
(Government sector and non government sector)
District co-ordination committee on ECCD.
 (25 District )
 15 members for District committee
Divisional co-ordination committee on ECCD
 ( 335 Divisions )
Village committee on ECCD
 (including govt. officers and the community)
ECCD NATIONAL POLICY
PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS
Introducing Guidelines for Early Childhood
Development Centers. ( around 16000 pre schools
in Sri Lanka)
 Conducting Pre school teachers training
programmes.
 Developing pre schools as child friendly centers.
 Conducting pre school diploma course.
 The Children’s Secretariat has been registered
ECCD diploma institutions in national level.
 The Children’s Secretariat is conducting a
special project for giving fresh milk to pre
school children .
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ECCD NATIONAL POLICY
PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS
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Conducting home based ECCD programme.
Conducting awareness programmes for parents,
Government officers, youth groups, and general
public on ECCD.
The Children’s secretariat conducting surveys on pre
schools.
Completed Early Childhood Development Standards
for 3-5 year children.( 0-3 standards is being
preparing by the Family Health Bureau, and 5-8 is
being preparing by the National Institute of
Education)
Introduced National ECCD week on 14th
December to 20th December in every year.
Developing ECCD trust fund for pre school
teachers.( It is on going process
ECCD NATIONAL POLICY
PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS
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Special project for developing pre schools in
Northern province and Eastern province.( Special
focus on war effected area)
Introducing ECCD model villages.
Special project for developing pre schools with
the support of Hemas Holding pvt ltd
National ECCD act is being preparing by the
Ministry of Child Development & Women’s
Affairs.
EASY TRANSITION TO FORMAL
EDUCATION (05 TO 8 YEARS)
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Responsible (National Institute of Education)
Curriculum policy for easy transition
Structure of Primary Education cycle
Key stage 01- Grade 01. Children in six years old.
Grade 02. Children of seven years old.
Key stage 02- Grade 03. Children in 08 years old.
Grade 04. Children of 09 years old
Key stage 03- Grade 05. Children in 10 years old.
EASY TRANSITION TO FORMAL
EDUCATION (05 TO 8 YEARS)
One lady teacher for key stage 01
 Learning methodologies for Key Stage1
 More guided play, more activities and less desk
work
 Play house activities for first two weeks of grade
1 enrolment
 Pre-language and mathematics skills in first
term of grade1 curriculum
 Teacher’s accountability for achieving 42 ELC’s of
KS1
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ROLE OF DEPARTMENT OF ECD AND
PRIMARY EDUCATION OF NIE
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Development and implementation of Primary
Education curriculum
Training of Provincial Teacher Trainers
Conducting ECD and Research Center to assist
ECD teacher training
Conducting one year Diploma in ECD (Early
Child Care and Protection is a main subject)
Planning to conduct study on Early Childhood
Development Standards for Grade1 (6 years)
ACCESS POLICY
Responsibility (Ministry of Education (MOE)
 Implementation of Government’s free test book
and free uniform policies
 Monitoring of implemented curriculum, school
enrolment activities, and KS1 ELCs
 Implementing education for all - monitoring
guidebook to empower inclusive education and
access policy implementation
 Free meals for school children of unprivileged
social groups
 Develop special 5000 model primary schools with
play areas and other physical facilities by 2015
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HEALTH AND NUTRITION POLICY
Responsibility (Ministry of Health)
 Conducting compulsory schools health and
nutrition programme by School Health Bureau.
 Development of ECD standards (0-3 years)
 Home based ECD programmes.