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Monday, October 13, 2008 - 07.40 GMT |
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Australian Govt supports primary education
in Sri Lanka |
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The government of Australia announced today
USD$ 4 million assistance through UNICEF to
support more than 600 Sri Lankan schools
over the next three years.
The funding will support the ‘Child Friendly
Schools’ Programme, a Ministry of Education
and UNICEF initiative to improve access to
quality primary education for children.
These include children who are marginalised,
vulnerable and living with disabilities.
“These funds will benefit as many as 250,000
children and Child Friendly Schools improve
learning and increase attendance and
retention,” said Australia’s Acting High
Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Sophia McIntyre.
‘Child Friendly Schools’ aim to promote
quality learning and create a healthy and
safe environment for children to study in.
They also ensure active engagement of
students, families and communities, a UNICEF
press release said.
“This contribution from the Australian
Government is both timely and significant,”
said UNICEF’s Representative in Sri Lanka,
Philippe Duamelle. “This generous support
will help Sri Lanka as it seeks to improve
the quality of primary education, and this
programme will reach those children most in
need.”
To date 1,400 schools in Sri Lanka are
participating in the Child Friendly Schools
Programme. UNICEF is supporting the Ministry
of Education to move towards mainstreaming
the programme as the national approach to
primary education. This includes
school-based capacity building of
principals, teachers, students and their
communities.
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