Financial Times

Hemas felicitates Piyawara Pre-School teachers
The Hemas Piyawara Pre-School Centres in Polonnaruwa, Matale and Jaffna were respectively adjudged first, second and third at a ceremony held recently to felicitate the dedication and hard work put in by the Piyawara pre-school teachers islandwide.

Launched in 2003, Piyawara is the CSR project of the Hemas Group in collaboration with the Ministry Women’s Empowerment and Social Welfare. Piyawara has as its aim, the promotion of higher standards in early childhood development, by setting up model centres and creating awareness throughout Sri Lanka.

CEO Hemas Holdings Husein Esufally said that under this programme, one school each belonging to the local government authority in each selected district was upgraded to a model school in the area. “The programme was implemented in three key stages: providing a safe and conducive environment by developing infrastructure and creating play areas, training the care givers regularly with comprehensive teacher training, and, conducting parental awareness campaigns to create the right home environment by empowering caregivers and parents for sustainability”, he said in a statement.

Once an abandoned little school, the Polonnaruwa Piyawara Pre-School Centre headed by Ms Binari Kokila Kumarasinghe, won first place and is now a centre of attraction in the area. Both teachers and villagers take pride in their school today. In fact those who wish to learn the concepts of pre-school education visit the Centre to get a first hand experience.

The Matale Piyawara Pre-School Centre which came second, is today considered a role model in its area. Its Head Teacher Ms. Chandrani Welegedera has been recognised for her exceptional child handling capabilities and promoted to over look most of the Pre-Schools in the district.

Headed by Miss Vasantha, the Jaffna Piyawara Pre-School Centre has graduated from 70 children sheltered in a derelict garage just after the ceasefire agreement, to a beautiful Pre-School with all facilities and well trained teachers located in the Jaffna Municipality.

Piyawara is currently operational in 12 districts with nearly 1200 children receiving an education and around 42 teachers on role. Guests of Honour on the occasion were UNICEF’s Sri Lanka country director Dr. Abera Beckalee, film director Somaratne Dissanayake and Secretary to the Ministry of Womens’ Empowerment and Social Welfare Anira Amaratunga amongs.

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