Colombo parishes to boost kindergartens

(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.