PARLIAMENT

Hon. Ruwanthilaka Jayakody,— To ask the Minister of Women and Child     Affairs,— (1)

(a) Will she inform this House —

(i) of the number of Early Childhood Development Centres (Pre-schools) currently registered in Sri Lanka;

(ii) of the minimum educational qualification that must be possessed by the pre-school wardens serving in those pre-schools;

(iii) ‍of the number of pre-school wardens currently serving who have fulfilled the above minimum educational qualification; and

(iv) whether a single syllabus, or any other such guiding mechanism has been introduced for every pre-school?

(b) Will she also inform this House —

(i) whether she admits that pre-school education is the most crucial and important sector among pre-school, primary, secondary, tertiary, university and other educational sectors; and

(ii) if so, whether steps will be taken to bring pre-school education directly under the Ministry of Education and develop it more effectively?

(c) If not, why?