Only 6,000 out of 34,000 pre-school teachers are diploma holders: Susil

14 May 2024 12:25 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 11 Bookmark

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By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Parliament, May 14 (Daily Mirror)- Education Minister Susil Premajayantha revealed today that only 6,000 out of 34,000 pre-school teachers and assistant teachers in Sri Lanka are diploma holders.

He told Parliament that there are 18,800 pre-schools in Sri Lanka and it is a serious matter that most of the teachers and assistant teachers are not diploma holders.

Responding to a question by SJB MP Hesha Vithanage, he said it is wrong to use even the terms Montessori and pre-school and that the correct term should be Early Childhood Development Centres.

The Minister said in developed countries such as the US and Japan, top priority in education is given to Early Childhood Development as it is the most important stage of the child’s education.

He said a UNICEF report has revealed that 20 percent of the children who should receive pre-school education have no access to it.

Comments - 11

Sokrates Tuesday, 14 May 2024 01:12 PM

Early Childhood Development Centers, what a monster of words. The best word would be kindergarten. In Germany, every child aged 3 and over has a legal right to a place. (School age in Germany begins at 6 years old.) A kindergarten is open there from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is lunch. The costs depend on the parents’ income. Every employee has a diploma.

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Concerned Tuesday, 14 May 2024 01:25 PM

So, this is where the problem starts. Just check the exorbitant fees charged by these “ pre schools”

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Kasu Kusu Tuesday, 14 May 2024 01:31 PM

Introduce a proper system and access rather than giving stats, minister

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Think about it Tuesday, 14 May 2024 01:45 PM

You are using “developed” countries like US as an example, then how come if you compare the criminal behaviour of children of Sri Lanka and America or Sri Lanka with any Western country , Sri Lankan children are well behaved and responsible whereas in America or in any other Western countries children commit so much crime and even murders. Diploma qualified Teachers in early education in the Western countries could not stop the criminality of Western Children but we produce better children without diploma qualified Teachers .

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Rip Winkle Tuesday, 14 May 2024 02:08 PM

Leave alone pre-school teachers, how many of you numbskulls in parliament even possess ordinary level qualifications?

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Ram Tuesday, 14 May 2024 03:13 PM

Bring in a rule giving them reasonable time to complete the Diploma and also not to employ as pre-school teachers those who have not completed the Diploma

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Nihal S Tuesday, 14 May 2024 03:16 PM

How many of the MPs have passed grade 10 exam?

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Sambo Tuesday, 14 May 2024 07:30 PM

So who gave them appointments. Also don't forget most of our politicians have not passed grade 8 according to some parliamentarians.

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Smh Tuesday, 14 May 2024 07:56 PM

It is your job as education minister to draw up and enforce minimum standards for teachers. No one else has the authority to fix the problem. I am an educator with a degree in ECE from the USA. Here's a suggestion. Call it "preschool" if it is a play-based curriculum. If it is a Montessori curriculum then it should be called Montessori. Anything else is a childcare center, if it offers a combination of play based curriculum and daycare services. Basically, the institution must be well defined to reflect the curriculum offered.

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Efucationist Tuesday, 14 May 2024 09:21 PM

So the rest are medamullana qualified.Hooray to our education system.

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Mahila Wednesday, 15 May 2024 04:59 AM

"Weeraketiya Pussma" variety, like Laurie’s Road childcare, SL's Future Guardians!!!???

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