28May 2017

PROFILE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE & EDUCATION (ECCD) IN SRI LANKA: ANALYSIS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT.

  • Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Crossref Cited-by Linking logo

  • Abstract
  • Keywords
  • References
  • Cite This Article as
  • Corresponding Author

The aim of the present study is to draw on several sources of informationin an effort to present a comprehensive and well-informed profile of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCD) in Sri Lanka. The study also explores the nature of the ECCD institutions, profile of preschool children in Sri Lanka, standards of teacher training, qualifications and learning indicators of ECCD, Sri Lanka. The paper further identifies that although preschool enrollment of the Sri Lankan children has increased over the years, significant percentage of preschool are resource constrained. The findings of the study also convey that limited skills, competencies and inadequate training of the ECCD service providers as well as insufficient remuneration/ prestige for the preschool teachers also appear to hinder the quality of the ECCD service provision, especially to children from disadvantaged communities. Furthermore, findings report the need to introduce uniform standards to ECCD institutions in Sri Lanka, maintain a healthy teacher child ratio, and the need for increased state sector involvement in the ECCD service provision. The study provides recommendation for policy makers, teacher trainers and researchers of ECCD, Sri Lanka.

  1. Alderman, H., Behrman, J.R., Lavy, V., &Menon, R. (2001). ?Child Health and School Enrollment: A Longitudinal Analysis,?Journal of Human Resources 36 (1), 185?205.
  2. Alderman, H., & Vegas, E. (2011). The Convergence of Equity and Efficiency in ECD Programs, In. No Small Matter: The Impact of Poverty, Shocks, and Human Capital Investments in Early Childhood Development, ed. Alderman, H, 155-183, Washiington, DC; World Bank, Retrieved on 26th of January, 2016, from,
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1298568319076/nosmallmatter.pdf
  1. Berk (2010). Child Development. New Delhi, India; Prentice Hall: 08th Edition
  2. Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC). (2013). A Comparison of International Childcare Systems, retrieved on 6th of January, 2017, from,
http://www.crec.co.uk/DFE-RR269.pdf
  1. Department of Census and Statistics, Ministry of Finance and Planning (MoF) (2014). Census of Population and Housing 2012: Key Findings, retrieved on 27th of December, 2016, from,
http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/CPH2011/index.php?fileName=Key_E&gp=Activities&tpl=3
  1. (ECCD in Sri Lanka) Early Childhood Care and Education in Sri Lanka (1986). Report of the National Committee of Inquiry on the young child, submitted to H.E. the president of Sri Lanka in August 1985.
  2. Erickson, E.H. (1974). Childhood and society. Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd.
  3. Evans, J. (1996). ECCD in Sri Lanka, The Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development, Program Profiles, Coordinators' Notebook No. 18, 1996,
  4. retrieved on 27th of December, 2016 from, ecdgroup.com/download/cc118cqi.pdf
  5. Heckman, James, JoraStixrud, and Sergio Urzua. (2005). ?The Effects of Cognitive and Non-cognitive Abilities on Labor Market Outcomes and Social Behavior.? Journal of Labor Economics 24 (3): 411?82.
  6. (LAVTC) (LalithAthulathmudali Vocational Training Centre) (2016), Diploma In Pre-School Teachers Training - Full Time, Retrieved on 01st of January, 2017, from,
http://lavtc.lk/courses/6-12-months-courses/nvq-courses/261-diploma-in-pre-school-teachers-training-full-time
  1. Ministry of Child Development and Women?s Affairs (MCDWA) (2010). ?National Survey on ECCD?. Children?s Secretariat, Ministry of Child Development and Women?s Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka.
  2. Ministry of Child Development and Women?s Affairs (MCDWA) (2006). ?Guidelines for Child Development Centers?. MCDWA, Government of Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
  3. Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka (2016), School census report, retrieved on 4th of January, 2017,
http://www.moe.gov.lk/english/images/Statistics/stat2015-16/2016_new.pdf
  1. Ministry of Education (MoE) (2008). ?Education for All: Mid-Decade Assessment?. MoE, Government of Sri Lanka. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved on 27th of December, 2016, from:http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Sri%20Lanka/Sri%20Lanka_EFA_MDA.pdf.
  2. Ministry of Women and Child Affairs (MWCA) (2016), child development, retrieved on 30th of December, 2016, from,
http://www.childwomenmin.gov.lk/English/services/child-development
  1. Mother?s Touch (2016), Preschool teacher training, Retrieved on 01st of January, 2017, from, http://www.motherstouchlk.com/
  2. (NIE) National Institute of Education in Sri Lanka Website (2016), retrieved on 5th of May, from, http://nie.lk/courses
  3. Open University of Sri Lanka (2014), retrieved on 06th of January, 2017, from,
http://www.ou.ac.lk/home/index.php/ousl/faculties-institutes/2013-11-04-09-09-12/early-childhood/home
  1. OECD Family Database (2010), retrieved on 6th of January, 2017, from,
www.oecd.org/els/social/family/database
  1. Pathirana, B.D.D. (2015). Creating a Rainbow: Recommendations for developing efficient, feasible and sustainable early childhood care and educational reforms to promote the optimal development within preschool children in Sri Lanka, International Journal of Advanced Research, 3(7), 934-942.
  2. Pathirana, B.D.D. (2006). Doctoral dissertation, ?An inquiry into early violence/aggression and prosocial behaviors in preschool children in Sri Lanka to identify appropriate interventions?. University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
  3. Salavitz, M., and Perry, B.D. (2010). Born for love. Harper Collins Publishers, New York.
  4. Sarvodaya Child Development Centre. (2000). ?Sarvodaya two weeks? training manual; basic training for preschool teachers. Sarvodaya Publication.
  5. Sarvodaya,( 2003). Display Board, Sarvodaya Child Development Centre on 15.12.2003.
  6. Siegler, R., Deloache, J., & Eisenberg, N. (2003). How children develop. New York: Worth Publishers.
  7. Training Centre for Montessori Teachers (2016), Diploma course curriculum, Retrieved on 01st of January, 2017, from,
http://www.montessoridiploma.com/montessori-diploma-courses.html
  1. Wijetunge, S., &Wickramarathna, V. (2003). National study on childcare provision in preschools, Sri Lanka. Colombo; UNICEF.
  2. World Bank Group. (2014) Laying the Foundation for Early Childhood Education in Sri Lanka. In: World Bank Other Operational Studies. RePEc:wbk:wboper:23362.
  3. Yoshida free preschool teacher training institute (1990). Leaflet prepared for 11th anniversary, Colombo: Janaka Printers
  4. UNESCO/ UNICEF (2012). Asia-Pacific end decade notes on education for all: EFA goal 1, Early Childhood Care and Education, retrieved on 27th of December, 2016, from,
https://www.unicef.org/rosa/217145e.pdf
  1. (2003). UNICEF sponsored National Seminar on childcare provisions in preschools, Sri Lanka, 02nd October, 2003 at the B.M.I.C.H., Colombo.

[Buddhiprabha D.D Pathirana. (2017); PROFILE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE & EDUCATION (ECCD) IN SRI LANKA: ANALYSIS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT. Int. J. of Adv. Res. 5 (May). 1372-1380] (ISSN 2320-5407). www.journalijar.com

Buddhiprabha D D Pathirana
Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Department of Philosophy & Psychology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

DOI:

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/4258      
DOI URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/4258

Download Full Paper

Download PDF No. of Downloads: 123 | No. of Views: 448