Pre-schools exhibition begins in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 July 2004, 01:36 GMT]
A two-day exhibition of the Child Friendly Development Centres (pre-schools) organized by the Early Childhood Development Unit of the North East Provincial Ministry of Education began Friday morning in the auditorium of the Trincomalee St.Joseph's College. This is the first time an exhibition of art works and other creations of students and teachers of pre-schools is being held in the northeast province.

Preschool band

Pre-schools in fourteen education zones, twelve in the eastern province (Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Muttur, Kantalai, Kalkudah, Paddiruppu, Kalmunai, Sammanthurai, Askkaraipattu, Amparai, Maha Oya and Dehiattakandiya) and two in the northern province (Mannar and Vavuniya South) participated in the exhibition.

The exhibition for the pre-schools in other education zones in the northern province is to be held in Jaffna in September, according to the organizing officials.

Mr.S.Rangarajah, Chief Secretary of the NEPC declared open the exhibition by cutting the ribbon. He said in his inaugural address that about three hundred thousand children in the northeast province underwent traumatic experience during the two-decade-old war.

"It is the duty of leaders of the civil society to ensure better future to these children to meet the challenges of the 21st century," said Mr.Rangarajah.

Art exhibits

He added that only NEPC has a unit for the Development of Early Childhood. No other provincial councils have such units. The exhibition has proved beyond doubt that pre-school teachers in the northeast province have required talent to develop pre-school students, Mr.Rangarajah said.

NE Provincial Secretary for Education Mr.Thiagalingam in his speech said the exhibition has been successful due to the assistance provided by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), UNICEF, Eastern Human Economic Development (EHED) and other organizations for the provincial ministry's effort.




Children and parents waiting for the guests to arrive



Provincial Education Ministry Senior Assistant Secretary Mt.S.Mahalingam made the welcome address. Early Childhood Development Unit Assistant Director of Education Ms Jeya Thambiah proposed vote of thanks.

At the start of the event, guests were taken in a procession to the auditorium with the attendance of Little King Nursery School band music.


Children waiting with garlands to welcome the guests