Sri Lanka is considered a developing nation, as its GDP per capita in 2021 stood at $1,973. The quality of life in Sri Lanka also remains low, with 13% of the population living on less than $3.65 a day in 2016. Despite the setbacks that Sri Lanka faces, the country has made many strides regarding child education. Currently, the literacy rate in Sri Lanka stands at 93%. According to Sri Lankan laws, education is free and mandatory for all children until the ninth grade. Afterward, the child can choose to continue their education or take on a job. Many organizations are continuing to work to improve child education in Sri Lanka. 

ChildFund Sri Lanka

ChildFund Sri Lanka is a nonprofit organization working to improve child education in Sri Lanka. The organization implements “child protection, humanitarian assistance, early childhood development, education and youth empowerment” programs. According to UNICEF, preschool education in Sri Lanka is poor. Only 39% of preschool teachers received at least one year of professional training. There is an insufficient focus on the stimulation of motor, cognitive and socio-emotional skills. ChildFund Sri Lanka implemented the Eat, Play, Love – Early Childhood Development program. The program aims to improve health, nutrition and early learning experiences for children. ChildFund Sri Lanka is on track to reach 1 million people by 2024. 

SOS Children’s Villages

Another organization working for child education in Sri Lanka is SOS Children’s Villages. SOS Children’s Villages estimates that 15,000 children are growing up without parental care and 14,000 children are not in school due to financial difficulties. SOS Children’s Villages is working to ensure that all children in Sri Lanka grow up in a caring and financially secure family. The organization strengthens and supports children’s families but also provides solutions for children who are unable to grow up with their biological parents. After 41 years of service, SOS Children’s Villages have impacted 17,000 lives of youth and put 4,000 children under financially secure care.  

Sri Lankan Children Foundation

Another nonprofit organization working for child education in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Children Foundation (SLCF). The mission of the SLCF is “to improve life chances for underprivileged children in Sri Lanka.” In the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami killed 14,000 children, damaged 183 schools and impacted about 100,000 children. The SLCF is working to find ways to help Sri Lankan children, particularly orphans, whom epidemics, poverty and natural disasters like the tsunami of 2004 impacted. In 2021, the SLCF implemented a successful program in which they renovated the playground and washroom of a children’s primary school and also provided educational materials to respond to the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown. 

ChildFund Sri Lanka, SOS Children’s Villages and the Sri Lankan Children Foundation are just three of the many organizations working to improve education for children in Sri Lanka. Each is making a significant impact in ensuring children in Sri Lanka have access to quality education, equipping them to find the path to a brighter future.

– Yana Gupta
Photo: Flickr