Management Scheme of

Early child hood Education Development Unit

Northern Province
By virtue of powers vested in me under the provisions of Article 154C of the 13th
Amendment to the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and by
proclamation made by His Excellency the President under Article 154T of the said
constitution and published in the Government Extraordinary Gazette No. 602/27 dated 24th
March 1990 I , G.A.Chandrasiri ,Governor of the Northern Province do hereby establish “
Early Childhood Development Unit” a unit within the Ministry of Education, Northern
Province, having the following structure, power, duties, and functions as hereinafter
provided.

1. Introduction
“Going to Scale” is the International Vision for the Early Childhood Development in
this millennium. All countries working on EFA had launched programmes
considering their cultural values and the needs. In our country the importance of ECD
is duly accepted and it is included in the overall education policy and plans at the
national and provincial levels. It is highlighted in “The Education Reforms introduced
by the government in 1997”.

2. Early Childhood
Researches confirm that early Childhood, the period from birth to age five is critically
important in brain development. There are several remarkably brief periods of
opportunity that lay the foundation for emotional control, mathematical and language
abilities and the capacity to form social attachments. When these periods end,
developing the capacity for learning becomes more difficult.

The curriculum of ECD should reflect current researches on child development

reveals that it should include specific learning goals. Activities, materials and

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 schedules should be appropriate to a child’s age and support all these key
development domains- cognitive-language development and problem solving skills,
physical- gross fine motor development, and social- emotional-interactions with
others in group, to children for overall development.

ECD education must insist on one important precondition namely that should not
result in early schooling, the emphasis should not be on teaching them specific
reading and arithmetic skills but that requires abstraction and must promote the
child’s holistic well balanced development.

In keeping with EFA, orientations need to ensure smooth transition from ECD to
primary school so that the gains made in the former will be firmly sustained in the
latter.

Bring together ECD net works and the stakeholders from across the region needs an
organization to coordinate and provides guidance and polices.
This organization will be called/ referred as “Early Childhood Development Unit” in
the Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports, Northern Province, in the
future.

3. Constitution
The 1978 Constitution of our country has declared in Article 13 that the state
promotes with special care the interests of children and psychosocial, and to protect
them from exploitation and discrimination.

4. Provincial Councils
The establishment of Provincial Councils and the devolution of power to the
Provinces by the 13th amendment to the Constitution have introduced an additional
dimension to the co-ordination of activities for development of children. (Annexure I)

5. Objectives
• Establish a management unit to assist in the formation, registration and monitoring
of ECCD centers.

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 • 2. Establish a network within the education division to support the activities of the
ECCD centers.

• Provide institutional support for the establishment of ECCD centers with the
participation of community to achieve the objectives of ECCD centers (Annexure
II).

6. Powers and Functions

The ECCD unit shall have powers, rights and functions. Powers shall include
• Establishing and managing the unit according to the financial and
administrative manual.
• Acquiring equipment, funds and any other resources.

• Appointing the staffs and resource persons , determine their emoluments

• Awarding contracts

Providing necessary guidance and assistance to improve Early Childhood

Development Activities in the Province

Registration, supervision and regulating the activities of pre-schools.(Annexure III)

Stipulate conditions regarding levying fees by Early Childhood Development Centers.

Stipulate educational and professional qualification for Early Childhood

Development Facilitators /Teachers

Training the Facilitators at Early Childhood Development Centers/accredited

institutions.(Annexure IV)

Establishing and maintaining teacher training institutes on Early Childhood
Development

Formulate and stipulate the standards for administration and maintenance of all ECD
centre/pre-schools (Annexure V)

Creating community awareness of developing of Early Childhood Development

Centers.

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Taking any other appropriate steps necessary to enrich Early Childhood
Development in the province

7. Organizational Structure
The organizational structure is four layered Committees are formed at Provincial,
Zonal, Divisional and preschool level and institution existing and newly formed
implements the decisions of the respective committees.
7.1 An advisory committee is established to take policy decisions on the early
Childhood development activities

The members of the committee shall be appointed by the Chief Secretary

The following members shall be Ex-officio members of the Early Childhood

Development Advisory Committee.
7.1.1 Provincial Secretary Education –Chairperson
7.1.2 Provincial Director Education
7.1.3 Provincial Director Health Service
7.1.4 Provincial Commissioner, Probation and Child Care Services
7.1.5 Commissioner of Local Government
7.1.6 The Director/ Assistant Director of Early Childhood Development
unit shall function as the secretary of this committee.

7.2 There shall be a Unit at the Ministry of Education to coordinate and

implement the policy as per to direction of the Advisory Committee.

7.3 The Director /Deputy Director of Education of ECD unit shall be the head of
the organizational set up of the centre subject to the direction of the
Advisory committee.

7.4 There shall be administrative, technical and support staff appointed by the
Secretary, Ministry of Education

7.5 Cadre Requirement

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Cadre Role/Responsibility Qualification/Required Skills
Appointm
ent
Director- -Ensure maintaining standard of Pre- - Leadership qualities
SLEAS schools – - Excellent people skills
/Senior - Reporting to the Secretary and the - Excellent
officer Advisory Committee. On Pre-schools communication skills.
activities. - Experience in human
- Supervise and monitor the resource management,
Infrastructure and other facilities human resource
in Pre-schools. development.
- Liaising with other organization - Experience in running a
on ECD activities. training institute.
- Developing annual
implementation plans
- Reporting to the Management
committee.

Responsible for
personal/career/institutional
development and performance
which involves
a. Collecting analyzing and
comprehend relevant details
relating to issues in her/his
subject.
b. Suggesting innovate ways of
improving/solving the situation
- Adapting/developing appropriate
tools, techniques, methodologies
and other good practices.
Deputy - Organize and conducting training - Extensive experience in

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Director courses for ADEE, Coordinators education management.
training and Pre-schools teachers - Technical experience in
SLEAS/Se - Develop new appropriate Pre-school teaching,
nior programmes preparation of course
officer - Sourcing out resource persons materials, personal
- Responsible for programmes management and
participants, welfare and discipline managing teaching
- Reporting to the Director on the staff.
progress of the training
programme.
HRD Manage the HRD database, Inventory of Experience of running training
Administr pre-schools, course reports, studies, programmes, working
ator evaluation, publicity material and reports knowledge of Preschool

Assist the Training Course administration
Administrator.
Managem
Maintenance, of updated of Experience of running
ent laws, policies, rules, regulations, Preschool training, working
Assistant instructions, documents, files knowledge of Preschool
ledgers etc, relating to his/her course administration
subject. handbooks.

Maintaining, procedures, work
steps, activity annual plan relating
to service delivered

7.6 There shall be a committee at each zone-called “Zonal Early Childhood

Development Committee”.

The following are the Ex-officio members of this committee, appointed by the Secretary to
the Ministry of Education.
7.6.1 Zonal Director of Education- Chairperson
7.6.2 Deputy Director Education-Development
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7.6.3 Divisional Education Officer
7.6.4. Community Development Officer of the Dept. of Local Government
7.6.5 Public Health Officer
7.6.6 Probation Officer
7.6.7 Assistant Director of Education Early Childhood Development
Act as Secretary of the committee In addition;
7.6.8 Divisional Pre-school coordinator
7.6.9 Representatives of INGOs
7.6.10 Three members from the pre-school supporters-recommended by the ZDE
Cadre Role/Responsibility Qualification/Required Skills
Appointm
ent
Assistant -Ensure maintaining standard of Pre- - Leadership qualities
Director- schools – - Excellent people skills
SLEAS - Reporting to the Zonal Director and the - Excellent
/Senior Advisory Committee. On Pre-schools communication skills.
officer activities. - Experience in human
- Supervise and monitor the resource management,
Infrastructure and other facilities human resource
in Pre-schools. development.
- Liaising with other organization - Experience in running a
on ECD activities. training institute.
- Developing annual Extensive experience in
implementation plans education management.
- Reporting to the Zonal committee. Technical experience in Pre-

Responsible for school teaching, preparation of
personal/career/institutional course materials, personal
development and performance management and managing
which involves teaching staff.
c. Collecting analyzing and
comprehend relevant details

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 relating to issues in her/his
subject.
d. Suggesting innovate ways of
improving/solving the situation
- Adapting/developing appropriate
tools, techniques, methodologies
and other good practices.
- Organize and conducting training
courses for Coordinators, Pre-
schools teachers
- Develop new appropriate
programmes
- Sourcing out resource persons
- Responsible for programmes
participants, welfare and discipline
- Reporting to the Zonal Director on
the progress of the training
programme.

- -
Managem
Maintenance, of updated of Experience of running
ent laws, policies, rules, regulations, Preschool training, working
Assistant instructions, documents, files knowledge of Preschool
ledgers etc, relating to his/her course administration
subject. handbook Zonal level.

Maintaining, procedures, work

steps, activity annual plan relating
to service delivered

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7.7Functions

7.7.1 Maintaining the records of preschools and the supporters

7.7.2 Developing zonal annual development plans
7.7.3 Developing and conducting training and awareness programmes
7.7.4 Conducting cultural festivals, sports meets, Exhibitions, among the children
7.7.5 Monitoring and Evaluation.
7.7.6 Reporting and submitting reports to the Ministry of Education

7.8.1 There shall be a committee at each zone-called “Divisional Early Childhood

Development Committee”.

The following are the Ex-officio members of this committee, appointed by the Secretary to
the Ministry of Education.

• divisional Director of Education- Chairperson

• Community Development Officer of the Dept. of Local Government

• Family Health officers

• ECCD coordinators

• At each ECCD centers a management committee with the participation of parents to

enhance the quality of the centers

Cadre Role/Responsibility Qualification/Required Skills

Appointm
ent
ECCD -Ensure maintaining standard of Pre- - Leadership qualities
coordinato schools – - Excellent people skills
rs - Reporting to the Divisional Director and - Excellent
the Divisional Advisory Committee. communication skills.
On Pre-schools activities. - Experience in human

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 - Supervise and monitor the resource management,
Infrastructure and other facilities human resource
in Pre-schools. development.
- Liaising with other organization
on ECD activities.
- Reporting to the Zonal committee.

Co-ordinate the
personal/career/institutional
development and performance
which involves
e. Collecting analyzing and
comprehend relevant details
relating to issues in her/his
subject.

Functions
7.8.2 Maintaining the records of preschools and the supporters.
7.8.3 Monitoring ECCD center activities
7.8.4 Developing and Conducting training and awareness programmes
7.8.5 Conducting cultural festivals, sports meets, Exhibitions, among the children
7.8.6 Reporting and submitting reports to the Zonal Education Office Ministry of
Education

7.9 There shall be a committee at each ECCD centers called “ECCD center
management Committee”
The committee comprises founder / organization, parents and well-wishers
Functions
7.9.1 Establishing the center to the norms set by the ECCD management unit
7.9.2. Recruitment of preschool teachers/ care givers
7.9.3 Managing the day to day activities to the center
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 7.9.4 Provide fund and assistants to manage the center

8. Pre-schools teachers
The teachers of the pre-schools serving on 01.01.2011 will be absorbed as preschool
teachers and they are requested to fulfill the basic qualification G.G.E (O/L) with
Mathematics and Tamil within one year and diploma certificate in ECCD by 3 years. The
preschool teachers absorbed on 01.01.2011 will be terminated If the educational/professional
qualifications are not fulfilled within the stipulated period will be terminated.. To motivate
the preschool teachers and to provide support for the ECCD centers till they are financially
sound, selected schools in vulnerable and disadvantaged are provided with grant till they are
self reliant.

9. Amendments to the Management Scheme

The Honorable Governor reserves the right to amend this management scheme.

10. Certification.
I, G.A. Chandrasiri Governor of the Northern Province, do hereby certify that the foregoing
instrument is created by me by virtue of powers vested upon me under the provisions of the
law as stated in the preface to this document.

Date Governor, Northern Province.

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 Annexure I
Thirteen Amendments to the constitution appendix III
Education

01. Provisions of facilities for all state schools other than specified schools
(Specified schools will be National schools, Special schools for service
personnel and schools for specified development schemes.)

02. Supervision of the management of

a. All pre schools: and
b. All state schools other than specified schools indicated above.
(In order to ensure standards the Ministry of education will retain the
right to inspect and supervise the management of schools)

18. Registration and supervision of pre schools

Annexure II
Aims of Early Childhood Development Centers
• To ensure convention of the rights of the child-affirms the right of all children
Relevant and good equality of education
• To ensure child’s eager to learn- growth of linguistic conceptual social
-emotional and motor competencies

• To ensure the holistic development of the child- the child’s physical growth
Should also be accompanied by an appropriate learning process

• To ensure healthy child development-it is an investment in a country’s future

Workforce and capacity to thrive economically and as society

• To ensure required skillful coordination and integration of diverse inputs at

Provincial and community level

• To ensure child’s readiness for school-in terms of physical capacities and

activity level, cognitive ability learning style, knowledge base and social and
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 psychological competencies.

• To ensure strengthened early education services.

• To develop standards and guidelines that regulate the development and

Implementation of ECD programmes in the Province

• To promote the importance of the role of parents/caregivers and the

Community in the development of children in the province

• To increase the survival rate of children in the formal school in the province

Annexure III

Standards for Pre-school

Pre-schools shall consist of the following basic and minimum facilities.

a) Allocation of minimum building accommodation of 10 sq feet for one child.

b) Provision of a toilet net work for every 25 children.

c) Provision of doors and windows for supply of air to 1/7 of cubic extent from the rooms
of the building.

d) Solid protection of the Pre-School premises by a protective wall or protective fence.

e) Maintenance of a first aid box as per instructions of the Advisory Committee.

f) Procession of an attractive environment covering Pre-school land or Pre-school garden

and composition of basic sport facilities as stipulated by the Advisory Committee.

g) Availability of a sufficiently accommodative court yard for sports

h) Presence of lady teachers to the ratio of 20:1 for normal students and to ratio of 5:1 for
exceptional children with special needs.

i) Availability of adequate furniture and equipment and their maintenance with an

attractive outlook for the mental satisfaction of children.

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j) Suitable premises for observance of religious rites.
No Pre-school shall be established within 100 meters – in vulnerable environment.

* Standard of the Pre-School is certified by the Local authorizes during registration.

Annexure IV
Training
Every Training Institution (except State Institutions which operate on national level or
approved by the government) engaged in training activities of Pre-school controllers and
teachers in the Province shall apply to the Advisory Committee and obtain a registration
certificate.

The Early Childhood Development unit shall prepare every year a systematic work
programme relating to the training of controllers and teachers of Pre-schools and submit to
the Provincial Advisory Committee for approval.

The Early Childhood Development unit shall possess the authority to the Pre-school
controllers and teachers, who do not attend training courses conducted by the Provincial
Advisory Committee, terminate from the service.

Early Childhood Development unit shall prepare implement systematic plans as per the
instruction of the Advisory Committee for education of the Pre-school children.

The Advisory Committee can makes orders in respect of all matters prescribed by this
Scheme or authorized by this scheme where such orders are necessary.

Every order made by the Advisory Committee shall be published and operative
from the date of publication.

Every order made by the Advisory Committee, after its publication shall be
Submitted as soon as for implementation to the Secretary Ministry of Education of
the Provincial Council. The date of repeat of an order shall be published.

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 Rules considered by the Advisory Committee as necessary for enforcement of powers,
discharge of duties and functions of this Scheme, affecting or connected there with or
incidental thereto, allowances paid to the teachers and fees recovered from the children
may be made by the Advisory Committee.

Every rule made by the Advisory Committee shall be approved by the Chief Secretary
Province and the announcement of such approval shall be published.

The service of any person intended as necessary for performance of functions of this
Scheme may be obtained for a certain prescribed period of time and be paid an allowance
fixed by the Chief Secretary.

The Advisory Committee shall take action with regard to an order or advice given by the
Chief Secretary and shall cause to submit a report if requested.

Annexure V
Registration of Pre-School
No person shall conduct or establish a Pre-school without the approval of the Provincial
Advisory Committee after the date of operation of this scheme.

Prior to the elapse of three months after introduction of this scheme, every
proprietor/supporter or manager of a Pre-school shall apply to the Advisory Committee for
registration as per to the 9th schedule of the 13th Amendment.

Any proprietor/supporter or manager who fails to apply within three months after,
introduction of this scheme may register the Pre-school can levy of an additional fee;
considering the past history of such pre-school.

Particulars stated in the schedule No 13th shall be included in the application for the
commencement of a new Pre-school.

14.1 A registration fee fixed by the Advisory Committee shall be paid for registration

14.2 Period required for registration and license requirements, relevant specimen and
fees shall be periodically declared by Advisory Committee

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 14.3 The Advisory Committee shall have authority to recover fines and additional fees
in respect of period for delayed registration and obtaining of license.

Every institution which is maintained with the motive of discharging an educational

activity of any nature for the children between the age beginning with 3 years to 5 years
in the Northern Province and every institution that is maintained as a Pre-school is
considered as a Pre-school under this scheme.

Any person who commences any Pre-school under the provisions of this Scheme and any
person who is conducting an educational course violating the above instruction shall be
guilty under this Scheme and shall be subject to a maximum fine of Rs.500 for every
commitment of such offence.

• On every occasion when a request is refused, reason for refusal shall be intimated
to the proprietor or supporter of the Pre-school within one month from the date of
the request.

• On receipt of such an appeal, the Chief Secretary shall refer the same to the
Advisory Committee and take a decision in respect of that appeal.

Early Childhood Development unit shall maintain a register with the names and address
of the Pre-schools with those of the persons who conduct with the other particulars
required necessary by him which have been maintained before the date of operation of
this scheme and registered as per provisions of the scheme after the date of operation of
this scheme.

Every Pre-school in the Northern Province shall be registered by the Advisory Committee
a Number and registration certificate shall be issued.

The certificate shall be considered as a legal document for provisions of this scheme.
If the Pre-school facilitators/Teachers who can apply accordingly have qualified and as per
the provisions of the Advisory Committee shall register them and issue identity card and
maintain proper records.

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