Govt.to set up education units for children with special needs

The Government said it is focusing on setting up of Special Education Units at district level to develop the skills of children with special needs in order to socialise them.

The matter was discussed at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday on the future activities of the State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-school & Primary Education, School Infrastructure & Education Services.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that one of the top priorities of the government was to formulate and implement a strategy that would cover the entire process from early childhood education to tertiary education

According to the President’s Media Division, Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation, Basil Rajapaksa had said that families with such children should be supported with financial assistance to protect them from becoming victims of psychological and economic collapse.

Meanwhile, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that one of the top priorities of the government was to formulate and implement a strategy that would cover the entire process from early childhood education to tertiary education, in order to ensure that future generations will choose the right path for them and their future.

“Up until now, there has been no proper focus or monitoring on pre-school education. Therefore, a formal plan has been formulated with the assistance of specialists in children’s education’, the President said.

He said that attention had been paid to grant an allowance to teachers of preschool, which did not charge fees.

“Another objective is to regulate and train them in a manner that does not embarrass and deject them. We also plan to provide pre-school children with a locally manufactured kit with the aim of developing their early skills. The primary responsibility of the officers and authorities is to identify and properly manage the resources of all schools in the island,” the President said.

Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, State Minister Piyal Nishantha, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Secretaries to Cabinet and State Ministries and officials of line institutions were present at the discussion.