Australian High Commission
Colombo
Australian Government and UNICEF Reconstruct New School Buildings for Children
More than one Billion Sri Lankan rupees invested in 23 schools in the North
Colombo 28 January 2014 – The Australian Government and UNICEF have inaugurated new buildings for children in four schools located in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi.
The restoration work was initiated as part of a more than one billion rupee partnership between Australian Government and UNICEF to help restore education facilities for 10,000 children in 23 schools in the North.
Some of the buildings at the Jayapuram Government Tamil Mixed School in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu Roman Catholic Tamil Mixed School, Sillawattai Tamil Vidyalayam in Mullaitivu and Katchilaimadu Maha Vidyalayam in Oddusudan, which were damaged during the conflict, were newly reconstructed to ‘child friendly’ standards.
The Australian High Commissioner, HE Ms Robyn Mudie said “The Australian Government is very pleased to be able to make such a significant contribution to the lives of children and families in the north. We hope the impact of this program will be long-lasting”.
The inauguration ceremonies were attended by key dignitaries from the Government including the Chief Minister of the Northern Province, Provincial Education officials, teachers, parents and school children.
“We thank the Australian Government for their support in improving the access to quality education for vulnerable children in Sri Lanka,” said the UNICEF Sri Lanka Representative Ms. Una McCauley. “This funding has helped guarantee the rights of these children, some from the most remote places of resettlement, to benefit from education facilities near their homes and in a learning environment that respects their dignity” said Ms. McCauley.
The schools received a range of construction support including: auditoriums, class rooms, laboratories for science and agriculture, computer and music rooms, offices for principals and teachers, canteens and washing facilities. The Australian Government has also helped train teachers on Child Friendly Approaches to teaching and learning, which will help improve the learning outcomes of children.
The Australian Government-UNICEF partnership supporting children and women in Sri Lanka has spanned 20 years benefiting numerous initiatives in health, education, protection and water supply and sanitation.
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For further information, please contact:
Nazreen Marikkar - Australian High Commission, Tel: 94-11-2463243
Suzanne Wooster - UNICEF Sri Lanka, Tel: 94-11-2832447/ 0773165378