Children's entertainment programs to mark World Deformity Day

The Special and Non-Formal Education Unit of the Western Province Educational Department will hold an entertainment and cultural program for differently abled children to mark the World Deformity Day on December 3 at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo.

The Special Educational Unit has organised this program to help children to recognise their talents and skills and interact with others.

By such programs we help students to develop their talents and skills so that they could be integrated to the formal education sector, Director Special and Non- Formal Education Unit, Donald Padmasiri said.

He said through educational programs they intend to make parents understand that their children are gifted with talents and not the scum of society to be discarded. Society is quick to categorise them as invalids but our aim is to bring out the best in such children who will make a significant contribution to the country, Padmasiri said.

He said there are over 1,300 students with various deformities in the Western Province who are being trained by 280 teachers. The Ministry of Education has emphasised the need to integrate differently abled students to the formal education system by helping them to recognise their talents and skills.

The Non-Formal Educational Program will provide vocational training to students who have not obtained entrance to universities.

The program focuses on educating parents of early childhood development, helping them to get their children admitted to a school and enforcing the Compulsory Education Regulation on children between 4-14. Classes are conducted for students who had not completed their formal education to enhance their knowledge on various sciences and technical fields.

The program includes training on fabric painting, pottery,bridal dressing, handicrafts, agriculture and IT literacy which would serve as income generating opportunities, Padmasiri said. An exhibition to recognise and promote the talents of over 6,000 students who have followed training in 450 centres will be held from November 27 to 29 at the Viharamahadevi Park.

(LF)