Early Childhood Care & Development – 2017
- Diploma in Preschool Education
After the establishment of Early Childhood Care & Development Unit in the Ministry of Education, North East Province in 1997 there was a need for strengthening the Preschools in the Province. Thus Aaruthal is to strengthen the capacity of preschool teachers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. In this regard, Aaruthal came forward to conduct the Diploma Course for the preschool teachers in collaboration with the Provincial Ministries of Education, Northern and Eastern Provinces and the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs. The approval to conduct the Diploma Course was granted to Aaruthal, Sri Lanka by the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs, under the registration number- ECCD NC /CS/22 dated 25th February, 2010.
The preschool diploma course was designed with the help of University Professors and experts in the field of education and Early Childhood Care.
Hence the fifth batch of Diploma in Preschool Education (2015/2016) convocation is commenced in both Northern and Eastern Provinces with the financial support of Rotary – Colombo East. Five centres in Northern Province and Six Centres in Eastern Province were supported. The course was inaugurated in 2016 and completed in 2017.
Diploma Holders-Northern Province
392 Preschool teachers successfully completed the diploma course in the Northern Province and awarded with certificates and medals at the convocation.
Diploma Holders-Eastern Province
320 preschool teachers successfully completed the diploma course in the Eastern Province and awarded with certificates and medals at the convocation
2. Early Childhood development and Training Centre- Blossoms
As part of strengthening the Early Childhood development activities Aaruthal initiated model preschools in two villages in Jaffna District. The model Early Childhood Care and Training Centre “Blossoms” are functioning at Kondavil and Ariyalai from January, 2017. The centre at Kondavil was declared opened by the Government Agent, Jaffna Mr. N. Vethanayagam. The schools are situated in conducive environments suitable for the preschool children. The play area is equipped with play kits to play and learn.
3. Teacher Guide training for preschool teachers – ‘Play & Learn’
Aaruthal in collaboration with the Early Childhood Development Unit of the Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs, Sports & Youth Affairs, Northern Province Prepared the teacher Guide “ Play & Learn” and published at the Ministry of Education, Northern Province with the funding assistance of UNICEF
Training on “play & learn”: Aaruthal Provided resource persons to conduct the capacity building workshop on play and Learn handbook funded and organized by World Vision Lanka. In the year of 2017, the below number of trainings were conducted.
| No. | Location | No. of trainings | Beneficiaries |
| 01. | Mannar | 2 | 80 |
| 02. | Puthukudiyiruppu | 2 | 80 |
| 03. | Karaithuraipatru | 2 | 80 |
| 04. | Thunukkai | 1 | 40 |
| 05. | Kilinochchi | 1 | 40 |
| Total | 320 |