(July 14,2010) In Sri Lanka, a fact-finding group of priests, nuns and civic activists
has vowed to assist villages in the war-torn north of the island nation, to establish
adequate kindergarten facilities. Facilities and learning materials for pre-school
pupils are basic and grossly inadequate, said Father Terrance Fernando, coordinator
for human rights and dignity in Colombo archdiocese. Fr.Fernando and the other delegation
members returned on July 12 from Alkattively, a resettled village in the former war
zone, where they talked with local priests, parents, teachers and children. They found
that most schools in villages near the Madhu shrine in Mannar diocese are just thatched
huts. Children squat on floors, lack basic learning materials and the teachers are
underpaid. The delegation identified 53 kindergartens with some 2,000 students below
five years in need of assistance. “It’s a challenge but we have decided to help
by providing better facilities, well paid teachers and a standard curriculum,” Fr.
Fernando said. The delegation said it is to assign five schools to five parishes in
Colombo archdiocese to receive help over a certain period. “It is a short-term program
until the situation in the villages returns to normal,” Father Fernando added.