Preschool Education is a Key Milestone in a Child’s Educational Journey – PM Harini Amarasuriya

Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Harini Amarasuriya stated that preschool education is a crucial milestone that determines a child’s future educational path. She emphasized that the government takes responsibility for ensuring the quality of preschool education and that all provinces must bring early childhood education activities under proper monitoring systems.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while attending a certificate awarding ceremony for the 2023/2024 Diploma holders of the North Western Province Preschool Teacher Training Institute, held on Friday (05) at the North Western Provincial Council Auditorium in Kurunegala, during an educational monitoring visit.

The event was organized jointly by the Early Childhood Development Authority and the Provincial Council to award diplomas to trained preschool teachers. The North Western Preschool Teacher Training College is a key government institution established to strengthen early childhood education in the region.

During the event, officials highlighted the government’s position on early childhood development and briefed the newly qualified diploma holders.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that steps are being taken to ensure stability in preschool education in the coming years. She noted that:

• The National Education Commission, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, and the Ministry of Education are jointly formulating policies, teacher training standards, and monitoring mechanisms.
• Preschool teacher training programmes will be launched this year.
• A standardized national curriculum for preschools is expected to be implemented island-wide by 2027.

She further emphasized the importance of creating a proper understanding of preschool education within society.

The Prime Minister added that preschool education should focus on building a strong foundation for a child’s early learning, particularly developing motor skills and age-appropriate abilities. She stressed that children should not be burdened with unnecessary academic pressure and that parents and caregivers must create a supportive learning environment.

Preschool teachers, she noted, have a key responsibility in communicating the true purpose of early childhood education to society.

The event was attended by North Western Province Governor Tissa Warnakulasuriya, Deputy Minister of Women and Child Affairs Namal Sudarshana, Members of Parliament Dharamppriya Dissanayake and Ashoka Gunasekara, senior provincial officials, and education authorities.