Access to quality education is Children's Right - UNICEF

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 November 2002, 22:18 GMT]
"The prolonged conflict has affected the education system badly in the northeast and as a result too many children are still not in school. However getting children back to school is not enough. We also have to remember to look into the environment of the school and quality of the teaching," said Mr.Jean Luc Bories, Chief project Director of the UNICEF in Colombo when he addressed the concluding session of the two-day North East Education Exhibition, "Towards a new Era," at Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College Thursday evening.

Mr.Jean Luc Bories

He further said: "Basic education is a right of every child. Education equips individuals and groups with the skills to progress in life. Therefore, education should be available to all without discrimination."

"UNICEF is the lead agency for education of the northeast province within the UN system and as such we have a great responsibility to support improvement of education in these areas," said Mr Jean Luc Bories.

The education reform was introduced to improve the quality of education and it is our hope that this exhibition, starting in Trincomalee, will reach out to schools, teachers, parents and communities throughout the northeast province and bring awareness on the rights of children to quality education, said Chief project Officer.

Ms Kaaronja.

Commending the Provincial Ministry of Education for their efforts in making the exhibition a success, Mr.Jean Luc Bories appealed to all sections to join forces with UNICEF to bring real difference to the lives of children in Sri Lanka.

Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Mr.K.Shanmugalingam said that twenty-year-old war in the country has badly affected the education of the northeast children.

A play staged by Vigneswara Maha Vidiyalayam students.

The head of the Trincomalee District Educational Division of the LTTE, Ms. Kaaronja, said that educational resources should be equally distributed to all schools irrespective of location. She stressed the education of rural students are badly affected due to shortage of teachers and other educational resources. These shortcomings should be rectified without delay.

UNICEF Trincomalee head delegate, Ms. Gabriella Elroy, said that the exhibition has provided an invaluable opportunity to create awareness on the education reform within and outside the school system as well as to promote children's right to survival, development, protection and participation.

Provincial Director of Education Mr.I.M.Issadeen, Additional Provincial Directors of Education Mt.S.Mahalingam and Mr.S. Subramaniam also spoke. Assistant Director of Education Mr.N.Anandaraj proposed voted of thanks.

The exhibition was organized by the NE Ministry of education, Cultural, Sports and Youth Affairs and Provincial Department of Education. Funding was provided by the UNICEF.

(L-R) NE Provincial Director of Education Mr.I.M.Issadeen, Provincial Ministry of Education Secretary Mr.K.Shanmugalingam, UNICEF Chief Project Director Mr.jean Luc Bories, UNICEF Trinco head delegate Ms Gabriella Elroy and Mr.N.Anandaraj, Assistant Director of Education ( NE School Library Service Division).