Sri Lanka Air Force Seva Vanitha Unit launched the pre-school project in order to uplift the standards of the pre-schools established in bases and units of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Aims and Objectives
Sri Lanka Air Force Seva Vanitha Unit started this project with the objective of:
• Giving every child an equal opportunity, regardless of their financial/social status for quality early childhood education
• Considering the improvement health and wellbeing of children in SLAF Bases/Units and children living in the vicinity
• Enhancing every phase of childhood development
• Promoting optimal physical mental health of the children
• Easing the financial burden of parents and educating parents on the importance of early childhood education
• And finally to standardize the all the pre-schools of the Sri Lanka Air Force up to International Standards.
In the year 2008, all the preschools of Sri Lanka Air Force were upgraded to International Standards. This included enhancing of phases of childhood development with carefully planned curriculum, text books. Modern classroom facilities and carefully selected professionals, devoted teaching staff, coupled with extra curricular activities such as music, dancing, speech and drama, swimming and arts and craft made these preschools unique.
Each of these pre-school comprises of class rooms for Play Group, Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten, and accommodation for a Library, a Music Room, Wash Rooms for children and staff, a Staff Room and Play areas.
The network of SLAF preschools provide service not only to the SLAF service personnel and civilians working in SLAF establishments but also to children of the families living in the vicinity of SLAF establishments.
Staff
The schools have been designed for the development of the whole child. Therefore after series of interviews conducted by the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson, competent and devoted new teachers are employed in all SLAF pre-schools.
With the view of updating the knowledge of the teachers workshops are being held regularly.
Pre School Books
The Chairperson herself has carefully planned and designed a set of pre-school books, to enhance phases of early childhood development using her expertise and experience as a mother and a teacher.
The books are:
For 3-4 Age Group- Lower Kindergarten
• English alphabet book 1
• English alphabet book 2
• Infant Number Book
• Tracing Book
For 4-5 Age Group- Upper Kindergarten
• English Language Book
• Infant Math’s Book
These books can be used by preschool teachers not only as text books and workbooks but also as a lesson planner.
In par with this Project the Pre-school of the SLAF Base Katunayake was selected as a pilot project. The foundation stone for a new pre-school building was laid by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2007. On 29th January 2008, this pre-school was declared opened by the First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapakse.
The Pre-school of SLAF Base Ratmalana was upgraded to International Standards and it was declared opened by the Chairperson of the MOD Seva Vanitha Unit, Madam Ayoma Rajapakse. The Day Care Centre also was opened on the same day by Madam Rajapakse.
As an addition to existing network of preschools, foundation stones for a new pre school building at SLAF Base Chinabay was laid by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke and the Chairperson of the SLAF SVU Mrs. Nelun Goonetileke on 16th October 2008. This preschool building was declared open by the First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapakse.
The preschools at SLAF Base Hingurakkgoda and SLAF Station Diyatalawa are the latest additions to the preschool network of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The preschool at SLAF Base Hingurakkgoda was declared open by the 1st Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapakse on 01st March 2010 and foundation stone for this building was laid by the Chairperson of SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit Madam Nelun Goonetileke on 03 Aug 2009.
Diyatalawa preschool was inaugurated by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on 16th Jan 2010.
Morawewa is a village in the Eastern Province where nearly 450 families of all communities have already settled after 30 years of war and more families are expected to settle in this village. This village is developed under the patronage of Sri Lanka Air Force in par with the “Nagenahira Navodaya” National Project. In par with this programme “Pipena Kusum”, a preschool in the Morawewa area was renovated and upgraded by Seva Vanitha Unit of the Sri Lanka Air Force and was declared opened on 12th March 2009. All the educational equipment, tools and books were also provided by SLAF SVU. Drinking water facility for this preschool was also provided by the SLAF SVU.
Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke laid the foundation stone for a National School in the Divulwewea Area on 17th October 2009 on the invitation of Seva Vanitha Unit. This school will be opened in 2010 and will provide education for children of all communities in the area.
The preschool “Apeksha” is under construction at 10th Mile Post of the Morawewa area and this preschool also will be opened in 2010.
Large amount of money is needed to complete these projects and SLAF SVU seek assistance and donations from the well wishers towards ongoing projects to provide a better education to children of people who shattered the lives due to 30 years of terrorism prevailed in the area.
