UNICEF provides school building for Nochchikulam students

About fifty students of resettled families in Nochchikulam village in the Morawewa division in the Trincomalee district Thursday moved into a new building, which has been constructed with the funds provided by the UNICEF. The children of the resettled families studied under tree shades till the completion of the semi-permanent building. UNICEF Trincomalee zone head Ms Gabriela Elroy declared open the building Thursday.

Nochchikulam is located on Trincomalee-Anuradhapura trunk road and about forty km off northwest of east port town,

UNICEF has been providing semi-permanent school buildings for IDP students to study till permanent infrastructure facilities are provided by other agencies, education sources said.

The buildings of the Nochchikulam Tamil government school were destroyed in the military operation when the Tamil families fled from the village in July 1990 and sought asylum in other areas in the northeast province and in South India, education sources said.

With the signing of the ceasefire agreement by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), 115 IDP families returned to Nochchikulam.

An additional 111 families have returned to Shanthipuram, another settlement in Morawewa division. The school was re-opened in January this year and students were taught under tree shades till the completion of the semi-permanent school building, sources said.

Morawewa Divisional Secretary Mr.H.S.Yasaretna presided over the opening event. Trincomalee Zonal Director of Education Mr.K.Thilakaretnam, Deputy Zonal Director Mr. T.M.Yoosuf Jhan, Principal Miss Kathirgamathamby Kanasaraswathie, Morawewa Police Officer Mr. Wijeratne, UNICEF Trincomalee development officer Mr.P.Uthayakumar and several other officials participated in the event.

Ms Gabriela Elroy handed a set of UNICEF school bags to the school attendance committee officials and the Principal to be handed over to students who have returned from welfare camps in South India. Education and police officials distributed UNICEF school bags to other students of internally displaced families, sources said.

Ms Gabriela Elroy, Mr.Thilakaretnam, Mr.Yasaretna, Mr.Wijeratna and others addressed the gathering. All wished the students with better and bright future.

Quelle - Tamilnet
5.3.2004

Needs of school dropouts to be addressed

A survey conducted among school dropouts by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization, Vavuniya in collaboration with UNICEF has identified certain factors requiring immediate resolution by NGOs and welfare organizations functioning in Vavuniya.

The identified factors which have to be resolved for the welfare of the dropouts are: birth certificates (07 students), school admissions (53 students), stationery (127 students), trade courses (47 students), employment (2 students), admissions to children’s home (2 students), admissions to homes for the handicapped (11 students), medical aid (2 students), consultation of psychiatrist (13 students), loan for self employment (30 students).

The TRO Vavuniya states that it will continue to endeavour to fulfill its obligation towards the school dropouts for the advancement for their future.

TRO News section
4.3.2004

Children’s Welfare Program assists students in Vavuniya

TRO Vavuniya, in collaboration with UNICEF, implements a Children’s Welfare Program to assist students whose education has been disrupted. Under this program TRO and UNICEF have jointly carried out a survey of 239 students who are below 18 years and have discontinued their studies.

Based on the data collected from these students the said organizations are vigorously engaged in solving the current problems of the school drop outs with the assistance of other NGOs functioning in Vavuniya. They have successfully found school admission for 15 students whose education was disrupted as a result of the long war and have supplied stationery to another 65 students.

TRO News section
2.3.2004

Capability display of preschool children

Children attending Ponnavarasankullam Preschool, Vavuniya displayed their capabilities at an event held on 25.02.2004. This pre-school is run by the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation in collaboration with the Centre for the Development of Preschool Education, Vavuniya South.

The chief guest of the event was P. Wigneswary Assistant Director, Preschools, Vavuniya South. Seva Lanka Coordinators Vavuniya District, Preschool teachers, parents and several others attended.

TRO News section,
2.3.2004