Listening to the voice of the mothers - Mothehrs Education, Sri Lanka
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Listening to the Voice of the Mothers
ASIA SOUTH PACIFIC
REAL WORLD STRATEGIES (RWS) PROJECT
Mothers Education Campaign 2008
Final Report
Sri Lanka
1
Synopsis
“Listening to the Voice of the Mothers”
National Convention on Mothers Education in Sri Lanka 2008
A crowd of mothers, educational officials, and representatives of the non government
organizations filled to capacity at the Janakala Kendraya at Pelawatte, Battaramulla on the
13th of December 2008 attending the Mothers Education National Convention organized by the
Coalition for Educational Development (CED)
The intention of the CED in organizing the Convention was to bring representative mothers from
disadvantaged communities scattered throughout the country, with lower literacy, to one
platform along with Policy makers, in order to make a voice for Mothers Education to be
included in the National Adult Education Policy and advocate the policy makers to give
Mothers Education its due prominence.
Approximately 480 mothers with lower literacy representing all communities, ethnic groups
coming from eighteen districts except Killinochchi, Vavuniya, Jaffna in the Northern Province
and few other districts of South attended the convention - may be the first of its kind in Sri
Lanka. The total number of participants reached approximately 600.
The total number of mothers the entire campaign reached is much higher than this as there
were provincial level programs prior to the national event in all these participating provinces
and districts.
The Minister of Education Honorable Susil Premajayantha was due to participate at the National
event but unfortunately he cancelled it at the last minute. Cancellation was done even after
having sent his personal and official security teams to the convention premises. Due to the large
number attending the convention from almost all the provinces we were told that his security
team has instructed him against attending, due to the prevailing security concerns in the
country. Therefore the participants and organizers both missed the opportunity of the much
anticipated participation of the minister himself. Three other ministers namely Minister of Social
Services, Human Rights and Women and Child affairs also invited but apologized for not being
able to participate mostly due to the timing (being the year end) and the security concerns.
Nonetheless the following policy makers were present among the guests at the convention and
address the gathering: Mrs. G Y Wijesuriya, Deputy Director, Department of Non formal
Education, Ministry of Education (National); Mr. K Kekulandara, Secretary to the Ministry of
Education, Central Province, (Provincial); Dr. Godwin Kodituwakku, Director, National Institute of
Education; Mr. Kamal Herath, Advisor-Education, Plan Sri Lanka
In addition to that mothers representing different disadvantaged community groups and ethnic
groups of the country themselves spoke at the convention regarding the hardships they
encounter due to lack of education and literary capabilities and the need to educate them.
2
Many a heartfelt stories and experiences were shared by these mothers with those who were
present at that day.
The policies addressed and advocated by the campaign were the Adult Education Policy and
Non-Formal Education Policy.
The event was given the full media coverage by electronic media. Many leading electronic
media organizations were present at the convention and the event was highlighted in the days
News of the state media ‘Esanin Puwath’.
Last but not least the CED strengthened its capacity to identify vulnerable groups in relation to
the subject and to create awareness, educate and mobilize them aiming policy changes at
national level. As a result of which there are numerous requests to carry out educational
programs to these mothers with lower literacy levels.
In overall it was one big event that was organized within a very short period of time with minimal
resources and the lessons learnt by the CED are numerous, this report attempts to describe the
CED’s experience in carrying out this Mothers Education Campaign as part of the Asia South
Pacific Real World Strategies (RWS) funded by Asia South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education
(ASPBAE).
The report has also focused on the process of planning and organizing the event in order to
elaborate the CED’s unique capacity on carrying out such advocacy programs through its
network of partner organizations and hopefully will serve as a document that spread its strength
as an organization that carry out advocacy to improve the education in Sri Lanka.
Readers are kindly requested to inform the CED Secretariat any mistakes and/or any
improvements that could have been made particularly to this campaign and report, so that
such comments could be used in a constructive manner in future work of the CED.
Report Compiled By
Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri Programme Coordinator
Coalition for Educational Development
3
Contents
Page
1 Background and Introduction to the Project 10
A Project was born - The initial project planning phase 10 Rationale and Justification of the Project 11
Soft Launch 11
Banner Display 12
2 Planning 13
Further Planning 13
Educating and Briefing the Local Partner Organizations 13
Ongoing Regular Planning 18
3 Provincial Activities 19
Feedback from local partners and provincial and local level activities 19
Feedbacks 22
North Western Province 22
Feedback from ‘Wayamba Govi Kantha Sansadaya’ 22
Feedback from Mihikatha Environmental Organization 22
Feedback from ‘Sarvodaya Shramdana Sangamaya’ 23
Feedback from Central Province 23
Feedback from Centre for Plantation Rural Community Development (CPRCD) 23
Feedback from ‘Hearts’ (Social Welfare Development Source) 24
Feedback from Navayugam Social development Centre (NSDF) 24
Feedback from Uva Province 24
Feedback from Be-Friend Organization – Buttala 24
Feedback from Western Province 25
Feedback from Rural Women’s Foundation (RWF) – Gampaha 25
Feedback from Southern Province 25
Matara District 25
Feedback from Visura Development Foundation – Matara 26
Feedback from Tissajaya Children’s Welfare Foundation – Matara 26
4
Page
4 National Convention 28
Mothers Education – The National Convention
13th Saturday, December 2008 28
Selecting a Place for the Convention 28
Final Stages of Preparation 29
The Program for the National Convention 29
Invitees and Invitations 30
Accommodation and Meals 30
Media 30
Banners, Name Tags, Food Coupons and Hand outs 31
First Aid 31
Organizing Committee 31
The Convention Day 31
The Stage Back drop 32
Arrival of Mothers at the Convention 33
Guests: Disappointments and Achievements 35
Lighting the traditional oil lamp 35
Welcome 36
The Pledge 37
The Speeches 38
The Purpose of Mothers Education National Convention 38
Guest Speech: Importance of Mothers Education 38
Voice of the Mothers at the Convention 39
The Closing 42
The Policy Makers’ Speeches 42
Award of Gifts 43
The vote of thanks 43
The Participants 44
5 A Summary of the Outcomes and Achievements of
the Mothers Education Campaign 48
Media and Publicity 49
The Policy Advocacy 50
Annexes 51
5
List of Annexes
Page
Annex 01 52
Mothers Education 2008 - Project Proposal
Annex 2 58
The Presentation made at the Mothers Education Project Awareness and Planning Meeting for
CED Partner Organizations held at CHPB, Pelawatta, Battaramulla on 2nd October 2008 (English)
Annex 3 62
The Presentation made at the Mothers Education Project Awareness and Planning Meeting for
CED Partner Organizations held at CHPB, Pelawatta, Battaramulla on 2nd October 2008
(Sinahala)
Annex 4 66
Attendance of the October 2nd, 2008 Planning Meeting for CED Local Partner Organizations
Annex 5 68
The Navayugam Social Welfare Development Forum (NSDF)’s report of local level
Mothers Education Project activity in the Nuwara Eliya district of Central Province.
Annex 6 70
Invitation and the Programme of the National Convention
Annex 7 71
Name Tags and Food Coupons of the Mothers Education National Convention
Annex 8: Hand Out – English 72
Annex 9: Hand Out – Sinhala 74
Annex 10: The Pledge 76
Annex 11: Attendance of the Mothers Education National Convention 77
6
List of Tables
Page
Table 1: Organizations that participated for the planning meeting
representing districts and provinces 17
Table 2: Provincial/local level awareness activities by partner organizations
including mother groups and numbers reached/planning to mobilize
for the convention 20
Table 3: Community groups from the Western Province, urban poor that
the Rural Women’s Foundation carried out their program for 25
Table 4: Reach of the program carried out by Visura Development Foundation
in Matara District 26
Table 5: Total population of the two Divisional Secretariats selected and
No. of GNDs 27
Table 6: The GN Divisions selected by the Tissajaya Foundation for their
local program and their respective populations 27
Table 7: Summary of the no. of adults identified by Tissajaya Foundation
whose literacy levels were low 27
Table 8: Organizing Committee for the Convention 32
Table 9: Number of Participants by District 45
Table 10: Total Number of Participants by Organization 45
Table 11: Provincial Participation 46
Table 12: Organizational Participation 47
List of Diagrams
Diagram 1: Route Map to the Convention Centre;
‘Folk Art Theatre’ in Battaramulla 29
7
List of Photographs
Photo No:
Description Page
Photos 1 & 2 CED partner organizations celebrating International Literacy
Day which was used for the soft launch of the Mothers
Education Project in early September 2008 with pending
approval of the project proposal from ASPBA
12
Photo 3 Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Chairman CED addressing the
gathering, translated by Mr. Lourdusamy
14
Photo 4 Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri – Programme Coordinator, CED explaining the
project background and activities to the audience
14
Photo 5 A section of the audience at CHPB
14
Photo 6 Mr. Chandana Bandara, Director Adult and Inclusive Education
listening to the project activities attentively
14
Photo 7 Mr. Ranjith Wickramasinghe, Secretary CED Further explaining
the project at group activities and facilitating the group work
with a colleague of his.
15
Photo 8 Group activity in progress
15
Photos 9, 10 & 11 Provincial level activities and the participation to National
Convention was discussed in separate groups for each
province at the meeting
16
Photos 12, 13 & 14 Participants presenting their tentative provincial plans to the
audience at the end of group discussions
16
Photos 15 & 16 Eastern Province presenting their plans and the audience
acknowledging them with applause
16
Photos 17, 18 & 19 Programme carried out in the plantation sector mothers from
the Pattiyagama, Heithwatta, Little Valley and Great Valley
estates by Centre for Plantation Rural Community
Development
23, 24
Photo 20 Local planning conducted by Tissajaya Children’s Welfare
Foundation in Matara on 30th October, 2008
26
Photo 21 The Convention Centre Gramodaya Janakala Centre (Folk Art
Theatre), Pelawatta, Battaramulla
28
Photo 22 The stage back drop ‘the Mothers Education National
Convention’
32
8
Photos 23 & 24 Participants from all over the island arriving at the Convention
Centre in Pelawatta, Battaramulla carrying banners on the 13th
December 2008, morning
33
Photos 25 & 26 More of the participants arriving at the Convention Centre
33
Photo 27 Registration in Progress
33
Photo 28 Entering the Convention Centre
34
Photo 29 Security personnel at the convention checking the mothers
entering the convention hall
34
Photos 30 & 31 Participants taking seats inside the hall
34
Photo 32 Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Chairman CED, Mr. K. Kekulandara,
Secretary of Education, Central Province and Mr. Kamal Herath
from Plan Sri Lanka lighting the traditional oil lamp.
35
Photo 33 Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya inviting other guests and provincial
representatives to light the oil lamp. Mr, Ranjith
Wickramasinghe, Secretary CED looks on
35
Photo 34 representatives from each province and representatives from
various ‘mother- Communities’ that were present, lighting the
oil lamp
35
Photo 35 Mothers observing religion prior to the proceedings of the day
36
Photo 36 CED Chairman, Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya welcomes the
gathering
36
Photo 37 Section of mothers in the audience
37
Photo 38 Distinguished Guests and CED officials in the audience
37
Photo 39 Mothers taking the pledge to work towards Adult and Mothers
Education in the country along with CED Sri Lanka
37
Photos 40, 41 & 42 Mothers and the participants taking the pledge at Mothers
Education National Convention
37
Photo 43 Mr. Chandana Bandara, Director, Adult and Inclusive
Education, CED, explaining the purpose of the Mothers
Education Project and National Convention to the gathering
38
Photo 44 One of the distinguished guests, Mr. Senaratne De Silva,
National Coordinator – Desha Hithayshee Association,
addressing the audience
38
9
Photo 45 A mother representing the Eastern Province Muslim Community
addressing the audience
39
Photo 46 Mrs. Nilanthi Shiromi Seneviratne from North Central Province
addressed the convention on behalf of mothers of children
with special needs
39
Photo 47 Mrs. R Kamachi representing the plantation community coming
from Lower Lawrence, Plantation Norwood singing a song and
speaking to the crowd.
40
Photo 48 Mrs. Uru Warige Anulawathie representing the
Indigenous ‘Veddah’ Community
41
Photo 49 Three mothers representing fisher folk community of the North
Western Province performing a dance to a folk song by them
41
Photos 50 & 51 Songs by child singers presented at the convention for the
pleasure of the audience
42
Photo 52 One of the Chief Guests, Mr. K. Kekurandara, Secretary to the
Ministry of Education, Central Province addressing the
gathering
42
Photo 53 The Chief Guest, Mrs. G Y Wijesuriya, Deputy Director,
Department of Non Formal Education, Ministry of Education
addressing the gathering in the absence of Minister of
Education on behalf of the national policy makers on
education
42
Photos 54, 55 & 56 Dr. Godwin Gunawardena, Director National Institute of
Education (NIE), Mrs. G. Y. Wijesuriya, Deputy Director,
Department of Non Formal Education, Ministry of Education
and Mr. K Kekulandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education,
Central Province awarding gifts to the mothers
43
Photo 57 Delivering of vote of thanks by CED’s Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri,
Chief Organizer of the Mothers Education 2008
43
Photos 58 & 59 The media eagerly capturing the event on their cameras
44
Photo 60 The compeers for the event
44
Photo 61 CED making its presence felt as an organization dedicated to
uplift the educational needs of the country
49
10
1 Background and Introduction to the Project
A Project was born - The initial project planning phase
The main idea for the Mothers Education Project and its Provincial and National Level activities
that were held, was first born at a discussion held at ‘Sithuwama’ organization in Matale, Central
Province, which is one of the partner organizations of the CED. This took place with the
participation of the majority of the members of the Executive Committee of the Coalition for
Educational Development (CED) in the third quarter of year 2008 with a view of rewriting the
Mothers Education Proposal which was initially unsuccessful.
The discussion was participated by Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Chairman, Mrs. Daya Ariyawathie,
Secretary, Mr. Douglus Kumaratunga, the Treasurer, Directors Mr. Micheal Joachim, Mr.
Chandana Bandara, Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Mr. Rupatissa, Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri, then Project
Manager, Budget Tracking and Analysis and Mr. Roshan Gunawardena, then Coordinating
Assistant of the CED.
Mr. Chandana Bandara, Director-Adult and Inclusive Education explained and elaborated his
experience in attempting to find out regarding the adult education in the country from the
relevant ministries and offices and therefore the lack of a proper policy to implement and
enforce such educational activities in order to achieve the Education for All (EFA) goals set forth
by the United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in support of
achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of the United Nations.
Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Director-Local Networking of CED came up with the idea of holding a
National Convention by mobilizing the mothers to make a voice for Mothers Education in the
Adult Education Policy in the Country and also to strengthen the CEDs position and capabilities
as an organization that carry advocacy activities in the Education Sector among policy makers.
This was agreed and further developed by the rest of the participants at the discussion and was
later documented and developed into a successful project proposal within a very short period
of time, which the Asian South Pacific Bureau for Adult Education (ASPBAE) agreed to fund, with
some improvements, as it fulfilled and the activities were aligned with the main objective of the
organization which is advocacy for policy changes in the education sector.
In this way the Mothers Education Project was born which centered round the main activity of a
National Convention which was scheduled to be held in the Western Province with the
participation of the media and the relevant policy makers.
What follows is the Final Report of this project which was carried out under the Asia South Pacific
Real World Strategies (RWS) Project for the year 2008 in Sri Lanka from September to December.
11
Rationale and Justification of the Project
Given here below is a brief excerpt from the project proposal which is annexed, explaining the
rationale and the justification of the project. (For the full text please refer to the annex 01 –
Mothers Education Project Proposal)
“When it comes to literacy rate, though Sri Lanka is considered to have a very high overall
literacy rate of 91.5%, whether this is true in a practical sense is doubtful due to many reasons.
One reason being the definition of literacy itself, if considered as the ability to write their own
name, though the percentage of people who could successfully do it may be high, it may not
reflect their true writing and reading skills which could be considered as “functional literacy”.
There is no doubt that the functional literacy rate is well below the recorded rates. In addition to
this, disparities exist in different geographical locations which have varying levels of
development, as well as different communities, which is especially true for some selected
disadvantaged communities. These communities include the plantation sector, the fisheries
community, minority communities like the indigenous people and the gypsy community, people
living in urban slums, street children, children whose parents/mothers have migrated for
employment, and those who have internally displaced due to the ethnic conflict, natural and
other manmade disasters. Though many measures have been taken to improve the quality of
life and the standard of living of most of these disadvantaged groups, specific measures to
include them in education is not effective enough which contributes to the delays in achieving
the target of ensuring “Education for All”.
“The concept and the actual activity of ‘Mothers Education’ therefore play an important role in
overcoming the identified obstacles in the field of education in the country, as mothers are
considered as persons who could play a major role in influencing the family and its children’s
education. Thus improving the quality and level of “Mother’s Education” will directly and
indirectly facilitate the process of achieving quality education for all”
With this background in mind the Mothers Education Project was designed and carried out as
detailed below in this report.
Soft Launch
In launching the Mothers Education Project, the first communications with the local partner
organizations were carried out in parallel to the International Literacy Day on September 8th,
2008, the theme of which was ‘Literacy is the key to health and wellbeing’. Banners were
printed highlighting the day and its theme and was sent to sixty local partner organization of the
CED scattered around the country.
12
Banner Display
Below are some of CED partner organizations’ banners that were displayed during the
International Literacy Day week educating the public regarding the International Literacy Day
and its theme and the importance of literacy.
Photos 1 & 2: CED partner organizations celebrating International Literacy Day which was used
for the soft launch of the Mothers Education Project in early September 2008 with pending
approval of the project proposal from ASPBAE.
Similar banners were displayed by 60 partner organizations of the Coalition for Educational
Development (CED) around the country at 60 different geographical locations including at the
CED Secretariat premises located in Etul Kotte.
13
2 Planning
Further Planning
CED Executive Committee met on 12th September 2008 evening again to further plan the
Mothers Education project activities. Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Director (Local Networking) was
handed over the responsibility of carrying out the activities and coordinating the activities with
the local partners with the assistance of other members of the Executive Committee and the
Secretariat staff of the CED.
It was decided to invite all the 60 partner organizations of the CED to a meeting, in order to brief
them on Mothers Education, objective(s) of the project, provincial level activities to be carried
out and regarding the National Convention to be held.
To this extent an invitation letter was sent to the partner organizations on 23rd of September 2008,
announcing the approval of the project and briefing to be held on the 2nd of October 2008,
soon after the celebrations of the International Children’s Day on the 1st of October which CED
celebrated with its partner organization by launching a Music CD with songs sung by well known
artists an child singers depicting the importance of education and the consequences of not
receiving any, and also the role of parents and mothers in educating their children. This Music
CD which comprises songs both in Sinhalese and Tamil languages could now be purchased from
the CED Secretariat.
Educating and Briefing the Local Partner Organizations
CED partner organizations gathered to Centre for Housing, Planning and Building (CHPB),
Pelawatta, Battaramulla on the 2nd October 2008 to discuss the Mothers Education project and
to further plan the provincial level activities and how mothers could be identified, educated and
mobilized to the capital city for the National Convention on Mothers Education.
English and Sinhala versions of the presentation made at this planning meeting is annexed to the
report (Annex 2 and 3 respectively)
At this planning meeting the CED local/provincial partner organizations were introduced to the
concept of Mothers Education and briefed about the background and the basis of the Mothers
Education, the Sri Lankan scenario with regards to Adult Education, the need for policy
formations targeting adult thus mothers education and how this short term Real World Strategies
(RWS) funded by Asia South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE) project aims to lay a
foundation in attempting to do this.
Mr. Elamaldeniya, the Chairman of the Coalition for Educational Development welcomed the
partner organization representatives to the gathering and briefly explained about the project
and the objectives of the planning meeting following which Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri, the Program
Coordinator of CED made a presentation on the Mothers Education Project, its main activities
and the shared role of the CED secretariat and its partner organizations in carrying out these
planned activities.
14
Photo 3: Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Chairman CED Photo 4: Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri – Program
addressing the gathering, translated Coordinator, CED explaining the project
by Mr. Lourdusamy background and activities to the audience
The contribution made by Mr. Lourdusamy of the Navayugam Social Development Centre in
Norwood, Central Province by translating the speeches and presentation to Tamil for the benefit
of the Tamil participants is noteworthy in mentioning here as CED has a very high membership in
the Easter Province of the country.
Photo 5: A section of the audience at CHPB Photo 6: Mr. Chandana Bandara, Director
Adult and Inclusive Education listening to
the project activities attentively
Mr. I.M. Chandana Bandara, Director (Adult and Inclusive Education) explained his experience
in trying to find out about the Sri Lankan policy relevant to adult education from the relevant
authorities and the response he received thus the current highly inadequate state of affairs in
relation to adult education in the country. He also highlighted the absence of structured plans
and activities directed at adult education in the country let along mothers’ education and the
highly felt need to make the policy makers aware of such programs.
Addressing the gathering he further explained that though there seem to be some recognition
by the government officials regarding the adult education, it is seemingly in line with the non-
formal educational programs and activities but not as a separate entity as adult education.
Furthermore he stressed that it was unclear as to whether responsibility rests with either the
Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Social Welfare when it comes to adult education in the
country.
Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Director (Local Networking), originator of the idea of National
Convention on Mothers Education and the chief organizer of the project played a major role in
15
educating and informing the partner organizations regarding the project activities and what
needs to be done by the partner organizations provincially in order to make the main event of
National convention a success.
It was highlighted the rationale behind organizing a National Convention in the Western
Province closer to the capital city, in order for the Coalition for Educational Development to
position themselves as an organization that carry out advocacy programs aimed at policy
changes and the need to engage the policy makers and the media in the process.
He stressed on the process of selecting mothers, mother groups and communities in the
respective local areas of each partner organization of the CED and the importance of creating
awareness, empowering and mobilizing the most disadvantaged communities, mother groups
and mothers with the least literary capabilities in order to make the project work and activities
more meaningful.
Mrs. Amara Peeris a well wisher and a prominent highly active member of the advisory board of
the coalition brought to the notice of the gathering the existence of standard recognized tools
to measure the literacy capabilities of adults and the possibility of using such tools in screening
mothers provincially for the project. Her views were readily agreed upon by the audience the
possibility of using such a tool was also discussed.
Limitations of the availability of budgetary allocations when compared to the activities planned
and therefore the need for being cost effective in terms of planning activities was among other
things that were discussed by Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri with the CED partners.
Having extensively briefed by the CED panel on the above topics the representatives from
partner organizations grouped themselves based on their representing provinces to discuss the
initial provincial activities that has to be carried out and planning and budgeting those activities
provincially and locally by their respective organizations. These groups were further facilitated by
members of the CED panel.
Photo 7: Mr. Ranjith Wickramasinghe, Secretary CED Photo 8: Group activity in progress
Further explaining the project at group activities and
facilitating the group work with a colleague of his.
16
Photos 9,10 & 11: Provincial level activities and the participation to National Convention was
discussed in separate groups for each province at the meeting
Following group work each province presented to the audience in summary, their activity plans
and budgets to which, a consensus was tentatively obtained from the audience with a view to
revise them later in the light of the available funds and resources.
Photos 12, 13 & 14: Participants presenting their tentative provincial plans to the audience at the
end of group discussions
Photos 15 & 16: Eastern Province presenting their plans and the audience acknowledging them
with applause
17
Table 1: Organizations that participated for the planning meeting representing districts and
provinces
Province District Organization
Kind Heart (x2) Batticaloa (2)
Women Development Forum (WDF) Eastern (3)
Trincomalee
(1)
KERD Foundation
Samasevaya
Sahana Association for the Disabled
Sri Lanka Rural Development Foundation
Arunodaya Maha Sangamaya
Anuradhapura
(5)
Gemisarana Maha Sangamaya
Human Rights Community Education Centre (HRCED)
Sri Lanka Human Development foundation (SLHDF)
Drug Prevention & Environment Preservation Organization
(DPEPO)
North Central
(9)
Polonnaruwa
(4)
Ape Shankthi Kantha Sangamaya
Putlam (1) Vinivida Organisation
Wayamba Govi Kantha Sansadaya
Prathibha Children’s Development Foundation
Child and Women Development Centre
North Western
(5) Kurunegala (4)
Child and Youth Development Centre
Sithuwama Training Education & Development Organization Matale (2)
Janasarana Educational Development Services
Information Literacy Improvement Centre (ILIC)
Sri Prabodha Training Institute Kandy (1)
Centre for Plantation Rural Community Development
(CPRCD)
‘Hearts’ Social Development
Social Welfare Development Forum (SWDF)
Central (6)
Nuwara Eliya
(3) Nawayugam Social development Centre (NSDF)
Environment & Community Development Information Centre
(ECDIC)
Community Development Foundation (CDF) Ratnapura (3)
Organization of Environment & Child Rights Preservation
(OECRP)
Sabaragamuwa
(4)
Kegalle (1) Dehiowita People Development Foundation (DPDF)
Uva (1) Moneragala
(1)
Be Friend
CEASL
Colombo (1) Coalition for Educational Development (CED)- Secretariat
(x3)
Kalutara (1) Diriya Kantha Foundation
Western (3)
Gampaha (1) Rural Women’s Foundation (RWF)
Community Development Circle (CDC)
Visura Foundation (x2) Southern (3) Matara (3)
Tissajaya Children’s Welfare Foundation
18
Many organizations showed a keen interest and enthusiasm in getting involved in the project
and talked about the relevant communities, mother groups and mothers in their respective
localities such as indigenous mother groups, fisher folks and the plantation community where
the literacy capabilities of adults and particularly mothers were notable low.
A total of 41 participants from 34 local partner organization of the CED took part in this planning
meeting along with the members of the CED Executive Committee and the Secretariat staff and
advisors, from eight provinces and sixteen districts of the country (see table 1). In addition there
were other organizations that expressed willingness to take part in the activities though they
could not attend the planning meeting. Attendance sheet of the meeting is annexed – Annex 4
Though they were informed and educated on the subject, Northern Province member
organizations of the coalition however could not take part in the project due to ongoing terrorist
activities in certain parts of the Northern Province in the country preventing free road access
between the northern peninsula and the south.
Ongoing Regular Planning
Matters that were discussed at the meeting on the 2nd October 2008 were further discussed and
agreed by the Chairman, the chief organizer, the members of the Executive Committee with
regular discussions held at the CED Secretariat in Etul Kotte.
This was done so that the project activities could be carried out within the available resources
and the time frame with the maximum participation from the provincial partner organizations.
This was coordinated via Email and telephone/fax with the participating partner organizations to
build a consensus regarding the budgetary allocations and activity plans, which was a
challenging task for both the chief organizer as well as the CED secretariat staff.
19
3 Provincial Activities
Feedback from local partners and provincial and local level activities
There was a very enthusiastic response from the local partners in organizing and coordinating
local level activities in their respective provinces. Some of the organizations that were unable to
take part in the planning meeting too expressed their willingness to take part in the project.
The response and the enthusiasm were so immense the number of participants had to be
limited from certain provinces as there were limited resources in terms of finances to provide for
their transportation, accommodation and meals.
The following (see Table 2) is a brief summary of the partner organizations that reported back to
CED Secretariat regarding their local activities and programs and mother groups and number of
mothers they reached and/or were planning to mobilize for the National Convention, along with the some of the issues and needs identified. (Please note that this summary only includes the
details of those organizations reported back to CED Secretariat in written format after the
planning meeting, prior to the national convention)
In total 33 partner organizations reported back to us in writing about their local activities and
numbers of mothers they have targeted in them and/or planning to mobilize for the event in
Colombo. These reported local activities had been carried out in eight provinces of the country
with the exception of the Northern Province in 17 districts reaching 806 mothers from various
community groups as detailed in the table 2 below.
These programs had reached the following community groups which includes all three main
ethnic groups in the country as well as other disadvantaged communities whose literacy levels
are particularly low;
- Sinhalese, Muslim and Tamil Mothers
- Rural mothers with Low literacy
- Rural poor
- Urban mother groups with low socio-economic status
- Mothers of children in children’s homes
- Mothers of drug addicts
- Mothers of children with special needs
- Plantation sector
- Fisher folks
- Minority fisher folks
- Farmer communities
- Indigenous People
- Women in prison
- Women occupied with illicit arrack selling
- Women in Illegal shelters around railway lines (especially in Ragama and Dematagoda)
20
Table 2: Provincial/local level awareness activities by partner organizations including mother groups and numbers reached/planning to mobilize for the convention (Please note that this
summary only includes the details of those organizations reported back to CED Secretariat in
written format after the planning meeting, prior to the national convention)
Local level activities by partners Province
(Number)
District
(Number)
Organization
Date No. Target Group
Kind Heart 18 Batticaloa
(36) Women Development Forum 18
Muslim Mothers
Eastern (51)
Trincomalee
(15)
KERD Foundation 15 Rural Sinhalese
Mothers - East
Samasevaya 32 Rural Sinhalese
– A’pura Anuradhapur
a (46) Sahana Association for the
Disabled
14 Mothers of
disabled
children
Drug Prevention &
Environment Preservation Organization
30 Indigenous Community
Ape Shankthi Kantha
Sangamaya
14
Gamisarana Maha
Sangamaya
14
North Central
(120)
Polonnaruwa
(74)
Sri Lanka Rural Development
Foundation
16
Rural Sinhalese
Mothers –
Polonnaruwa
District
Vinivida Organisation 14 Rural Sinhalese
Mihikatha Environmental
Organisation
31.10.’08 24 Rural Mothers
(Fisher folks) Putlam (56)
Sarvodaya Shramdana
Sangamaya
11.11.’08 18 Minority Fisher
Community
Wayamba Govi Kantha
Sansadaya
10.11.’08 22 Rural Mothers
(Farming
Community)
Prathibha Children’s
Development Foundation
24,25 Oct
and 4,6
Nov 2008
13
Child and Women
Development Centre
15
North Western
(123) Kurunegala
(67)
Child and Youth
Development Centre
17
Rural Mothers
Sithuwama Training
Education & Development
Organization (STEDO)
14 Central (163)
Matale (26)
Janasarana Educational
Development Services
12
Rural Sinhalese
21
Kandy (30)
Centre for Plantation Rural
Community Development
(CPRCD)
23.10.’08 30 Plantation
Community
‘Hearts’ (Social Welfare
Development Source)
01.11.’08 27 Grass Root
Level
Plantation
Sector Mothers
Plantation Rural Economic
Development Organization
(PREDO)
15 Plantation
Community
Social Welfare Development
Forum (SWDF)
14 Plantation/
Tamil
Community
Nuwara Eliya
(107)
Nawayugam Social
Development Centre (NSDF)
02.11.’08 51 Tamil
Community
Ratnapura
(13)
Ekabadda Praja Sanwardana
Kantha Maha Sangamaya
13
Sabaragamu
wa (28) Kegalle (15)
Dehiowita People
Development Foundation
(DPDF)
15 Rural Mothers
Be Friend 35
Uva (40) Moneragala
(40) Uva Wellassa Farmer
Women’s Organization
05 Rural Mothers
Colombo
(10)
‘Sanhinda’ Children’s Home 10 Mothers of
Street Children
(Urban Poor)
Gampaha
and
Colombo
(140)
Rural Women’s Foundation
(RWF) 140
Urban Poor
(including fish
sellers, those
who are
involved in illicit
arrack selling,
women in
prison, Mothers
of drug
addicts, low
income groups
in illegal
shelters around
railway lines)
Western (177)
Kalutara (27) Diriya Kantha Foundation
27 Urban and
Rural Poor
Galle (15) DEHERM Organization 15
Tissajaya Children’s Welfare
Foundation
12.11.’08 72
Southern (104) Matara (89)
Visura Development
Foundation
17
Southern
Region Rural
Mothers
22
Feedbacks
North Western Province
Feedback from ‘Wayamba Govi Kantha Sansadaya’
Mr H.M.G Bandara the project coordinator of ‘Wayamba Govi Kantha Sansadaya’ from North
Western Province, Kurunegala District reporting to the CED said that their organization had
carried out a local awareness programme for 22 parents coming from rural farmer communities
with the participation of the prominent personalities in the locality including Principals and
representatives from School Development Societies along with the members of the organization.
Out of these, 15 mothers with particularly low literacy levels had been chosen to participate the
National program.
Once the purpose and the objectives had been briefed to the audience by the organizations
coordinating officer for the education programme, the Principal of Leekolawewa Vidyalaya
addressing the gathering had appreciated the work done by the CED and its partners in relation
to Mothers Education and it was also brought to the notice that in his school’s catchment area
there are at least about 20 families including young adults of both gender who cannot read or
write.
It was also said that the low educational level of the parents particularly of mothers as a factor
for children dropping out early from schools, especially in the rural Sri Lankan villages such as
theirs, thus affecting the overall literacy and education of the future generations too. He also
highlighted that educating mothers would be a key activity in order to increase the parents of
communities like theirs to pay more attention to their children’s education which at the moment
is of very poor in nature and quality giving and extra burden to the teachers of their schools.
He also requested the organization to carry out programs and activities to increase the adult
literacy in their region.
Feedback from Mihikatha Environmental Organization
Mihikatha Environmental Organisation too had reported about their provincial programme
which had been held on the 31 of October 2008 with eh participation of 24 rural mothers from
the locality, out of which 15 were selected to participate the National Convention. They had
also decided to make presentation either in the form of a song or a folksong at the National
Convention. Two mothers, Shriyani Diyapalagoda and T. Mary Nishanthi had volunteered for this
purpose.
Mrs. J Gallage coordinating officer of the organization had explained to the gathered mothers
the importance of educating mothers and the direct relationship between mothers’ education
and education of their respective children. She had also stressed the fact that that most abused
children are also from families where mothers educational level is particularly low.
23
Feedback from ‘Sarvodaya Shramdana Sangamaya’
Ms. W. A. Aruna Shanthi reported about the local programme their organization carried out for
18 participants from the minority fisher community in the district of Putlam on 11.11.2008. This had
included both mother and fathers as well.
They had taken measures to create a wide awareness and raise the importance of adult and
mothers education among the participants by explaining the objectives of the project and the
definition of literacy and the advantages and disadvantages of being literate and illiterate
respectively.
The importance of literacy in taking leadership, socialization activities, educating the children,
carrying out daily activities, household management, achieving savings and future goals,
developing personality and for the progression of education, spirituality, culture, civilization and
politics had been highlighted at this programme.
Writing further about their experience they had stated though they experienced that mothers
were somewhat reluctant to identify themselves as illiterate and therefore to participate in this
awareness creation programme at the beginning at the end of the programme everybody
acknowledged the importance of it and even mentioned that there are a large numbers of
such illiterate mothers in their areas to whom too this programme should be extended in the
future, but the participation for programs like these though is important most of them can not
compromise time for them as they are working and this would cause them a days’ pay which is
a substantial economic burden for them. Therefore had asked the organizers to consider that
aspect in organizing future events.
A 13 year old girl who had lost both of her parents and had been in a probationary centre too
had participated in this program and she had shown a keen interest in taking part in the
national event too.
Feedback from Central Province
Feedback from Centre for Plantation Rural Community Development (CPRCD)
CPRCD had carried out an awareness
creating programme for the mothers of
the plantation sector representing the
Pattiyagama estate, Heith estate,
Great Valley and Little Valley estates on
23rd October 2008 with the participation
of the ‘Grama Seva Niladhari’ and the
‘Samurdhi NIladhari’ ( two village social
services officials) and other participants
from the organization. The prevailing
low literacy among the mothers and
adult of the estate sector and its
influence on low education of the
children of the estate sector was the
main topic of discussion at this meeting.
24
Mothers with particularly low literacy who are below the age 50 years were selected to take part
in the national event at this meeting.
Photos 17, 18 & 19: Programme carried out in the plantation sector mothers from the
Pattiyagama, Heithwatta, Little Valley and Great Valley estates by Centre for Plantation Rural
Community Development
Feedback from ‘Hearts’ (Social Welfare Development Source)
Hearts – Social Welfare Development Source writing to us informed that they had carried out a
programme targeting grass root level plantation sector mothers on the 1st of November 2008 in
preparation for the National Convention of the Mothers Education project. A total of 27
participated for this discussion out of which 23 were mothers and the other 4 were fathers.
Where 12 mothers with were selected to be mobilized to come to Colombo for the main event.
The topics discussed at the local level included Adult Literacy, Mothers Education with Special
reference to the Plantation Sector.
Feedback from Navayugam Social development Centre (NSDF)
Mr. Lourdusamy had informed that NSDF on the 2nd November 2008 carried out a local level
Mothers Education programme for the mothers from their respective community to which a total
of 51 including 46 mothers participated. Mr. Lourdusamy’s full report is annexed – Annex 5
Feedback from Uva Province
Feedback from Be-Friend Organization – Buttala
The Chairman of Be-Friend organization Mr. Priyanka Ratnayake writing to us informed that they
had carried out two programs for a total of 35 rural mothers between the age of 18 and 50
years, in Buttala Divisional Secretariat in Moneragala District out of which 15 would be selected
to take part in the national event.
The relevance of mothers’ education in family well being and education of children had been
highlighted and the right of adults to have an education with a view of empowering and
mobilizing mothers to make a voice for policy changes in the adult education field.
25
Feedback from Western Province
Feedback from Rural Women’s Foundation (RWF) – Gampaha
RWF had carried out their activities for a total of 140 females mostly from the district of
Gampaha with few from Colombo District as well. Composition of this group is given in the
below table 3.
Table 3: Community groups from the Western Province that the Rural Women’s Foundation
carried out their program for
The Urban Community Groups No. of
Mothers
1 Those who are in fish and illicit arrack selling 30
2 Mothers of drug addicts 15
3 Women in prison 75
4 Low income Females of illegal shelters (especially around railway
lines)
20
Total 140
The program had included the following activities and goals;
- Classification of the community groups (see Table 3)
- Provision of knowledge these mothers need to increase their livelihoods depending their
vocational and relevant backgrounds
- Give them a formal form of literacy training
- Alternative vocations for those who are involved in illegal activities
- Assisting mothers of drug addicts to direct their addicted children for rehabilitation
instead of sending them to prisons.
- Counseling and literacy classes for the female prisoners in the Welikada prison.
- A monthly awareness program for those who are illegal occupying shelters around
railway lines especially in Ragama and Dematagoda areas.
- Giving basic literacy training for those who currently cannot sign their name or write.
- Giving them training in reading so they could at least read a news paper
- Social integration of low literacy groups
Feedback from Southern Province
Matara District - Matara District is one of the three districts in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka,
which is situated between the districts of Galle and Hambantota, with a geographical area of
1282.5 square kilo meters spanning from the sea level up to 3800 feet above sea level.
The district has a total of 16 divisional secretariats and 650 GN Divisions with a total population of
812,808 (out of which male population is 412,887 and female population is 399,921) and 365
schools.
26
Feedback from Visura Development Foundation – Matara
Visura Development Foundation had selected six Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions from Matara
District to carry out their program activities while selecting 17 mothers with low literacy levels out
of a total population of 50 of both males and females that have not gone to school in these six
GN Divisions in Matara District (See table 4).
Table 4: Reach of the program carried out by Visura Development Foundation in Matara District
GN Division Total
Population Female Male
Total No.
Not gone
to school
Selected
No. of
Mothers
1 Thotamuna 1964 1074 890 8 3
2 Polhena 2644 1394 1250 5 1
3 Nupewela 3417 1863 1554 11 3
4 Mathotagama 3057 1995 1062 4 1
5 Paramulla 2769 1502 1267 10 4
6 Ransandagoda 3696 2045 1651 12 5
Total 17547 9873 7674 50 17
According to the information provided by M. Sumanananda Thero, the Executive Director of
Visura Development Foundation, in the six GN Divisions selected there had been a 0.3% of total
population that had not received a school education, 34% of which were selected to take part
in the National Convention on Mothers Education.
Mr. Dayananda De Silva, a Retired Principal and Mr. Sunil Kodikara, a Mathematics Instructor
had been the resource persons for the program.
Feedback from Tissajaya Children’s Welfare Foundation – Matara
Tissajaya Children’s Welfare Foundation had carried out an awareness creation and preparation
meeting with Public Health Mid Wives (PHMW) and Public Health Inspectors (PHI) of two
Divisional Secretariats in the district of Matara on 30th October 2008.
Photo 20: Local planning conducted by Tissajaya
Children’s Welfare Foundation in Matara on 30th
October, 2008.
A total of 55 persons had participated from the
Weligama and Welipitiya divisional secretariats for this
meeting at which carrying out a survey to identify the
adults with lower literacy levels in the following selected
eight GN divisions from the above two divisional
secretariats’.
27
Table 5: Total population of the two Divisional Secretariats selected and No. of GNDs
Divisional
Secretariat
No. of
GN
Divisions
Total
Population
Female Male
Weligama 48 82,728 50,183 32,545
Welipitiya 36 49,318 27,330 21,988
Total 84 132,046 77,513 54,533
The survey was finally carried out in the following GN divisions detailed in Table 6.
Table 6: The GN Divisions selected by the Tissajaya Foundation for their local program and their
respective populations
GN Division No. Total
Population
Female Male
1 Aluthweediya 385 A 2,535 1,237 1,298
2 Hettiweediya 382 B 2,383 1,202 1,181
3 Palalla 377 A 2,145 1,147 998
4 Welipitiya 396 A 2,641 1,364 1,277
5 Denipitiya
East
391 2,268 1,219 1,049
Total 11,972 6,169 5,803
These GN Divisions were identified as the most remote and socio-economically low areas of the
region in which the survey should be carried out.
In accordance a survey had been carried out on the 12th of November, 2008 to map out the
relevant target group for the adult/mothers education program activities which was
coordinated by Ms. Surani Radhika.
Table 7: Summary of the no. of adults identified by Tissajaya Foundation whose literacy levels
were low
Reporting to us Ms. Surani Radhika
summarized the findings in the
above manner (see Table 7)
identifying a total of 72 adults in the
selected GN Divisions whose literacy
is particularly low.
Out of them 14 females whose age
was below 40 years of age had
been selected to carry out and
educational program to improve
their literacy levels.
Below 40 years
of age
GN Division Total No.
of Adults
whose
literacy is
low
Females
Above
the age
of 40
years Female Male
Aluthweediya 16 5 9 8
Hettiweediya 19 3 6 10
Palalla 15 6 2 7
Denipitiya
East
10 3 2 5
Welipitiya 12 2 1 9
Total 72 19 14 39
28
4 National Convention
Mothers Education – The National Convention
13th Saturday, December 2008
Selecting a Place for the Convention
Selecting a place for the National Convention was done by discussing among the Executive
Committee meeting members. Thought it was thought to have the convention in an open air
theatre at the beginning later on the idea was abandoned due security conditions that prevail
in Colombo and also to minimize any disturbances from any rain and other adverse weather
conditions that could occur on the day.
Photo 21: The Convention Centre
Gramodaya Janakala Centre (Folk Art Theatre), Pelawatta, Battaramulla.
After searching for available places Mr.
Ranjith Wickramasinghe, Secretary of CED
found what could be considered as an ideal
place to hold the National Convention in
close proximity to the Ministry of Education as
well as the CED secretariat in a quiet,
spacious and a peaceful location. It was the
auditorium of the newly build Folk Art Theatre
located in Pelawatta, Battaramulla. It
offered a hall large enough to hold the
convention in a well kept and maintained
environment, with the other required facilities
such as access to clean water, sanitary
facilities and good ventilation. In addition it
also catered to accessibility requirements of
the disabled in keeping line with the modern infra structural standards. It was easily reachable
from the participants coming from all parts of the island and also to the places where
accommodation was arranged for those who were staying in Colombo overnight. This seemed
like the ideal place that ensured the security of the invitees and as well as the participant
mothers with the advantage of being located within a large land that occupied the Janakala
Centre buildings thus not causing any disturbance to the traffic or the public in the process of
embarking and disembarking of the participants from their vehicles of transport at the
convention premises.
29
Diagram 1: Route Map to the Convention Centre; ‘Folk Art Theatre’ in Battaramulla
Final Stages of Preparation
Having the date and venue confirmed and as the days got closer to the National Convention
the Secretariat work and the organizing got even busier.
The Program for the National Convention
An activity schedule for the event was prepared in such a way that the activities highlight the
importance of Mothers Education and the need for policy changes in adult education to
include mothers education while giving the opportunity to all stake holders including mothers
themselves to express their views on education and literacy. To this extent organizations and
mothers were selected to represent a range of disadvantaged communities and all three main
ethnic groups of the country. Experts were invited as resource personnel for the event activity
planning and the provincial and national level policy makers and politicians were given a
chance to express their views as well.
In addition to add color to the event and as an activity for both entertainment and education
few songs were selected to be presented at the event. These songs were chosen from the Music
CD produced by the CED, in commemoration of the International Children’s Day on October 1st
and was to be sung by child singers. Some of the song composers for this CD who are mothers
themselves too were invited to take part in the event as guests.
30
Invitees and Invitations
The Executive Committee decided upon the invitees and the invitations were designed, printed
and sent to the invitees via email as well as post.
Among other distinguished guests it was decided to invite four ministers; namely Minister of
Education, Minister of Social Services, Minister of Human Rights and Disaster Management and
Minister of Women’s Affairs to represent the national level policy makers and to all the
Secretary’s of the Provincial Ministries of Education to represent the provincial level policy
makers and other local and international non-governmental organizations that work with CED.
Unfortunately due to the prevailing security situation in the country many ministers said that their
participation is doubtful except for the Minister of Education who was willing to take part due to
CED Director, Mr. I.M. Chandana Bandara’s personal involvement in inviting him.
Mr. Bandara also personally invited the key individuals of the major INGO’s operating in the
country in relation to Education to the national event. Again many were unavailable due to their
other year end commitments. Unicef, Save the Children in Sri Lanka (SCiSL), Foundation for
International Training (FIT), Forut, Right To Play and CED’s regional partner Asia South Pacific
Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE) are among the organizations who acknowledged the
invitation and sent their wishes and apologies for not being able to participate along with Mr. S.
Balakrishnan, a former member of the CED advisory board and Dr. Nisha Arunatilake, a
consultant of the CED, attached to the National Institute of the Policy Studies (NIPS).
Dr. Somaratne Eknayake, Retired Basic Education Advisor (UNESCO/UNHCR) who supported the
CED with his expert comments on Mothers Education at the planning stages too apologized for
not being able to take part due to a personal commitment.
Another much felt notable absentee for the event was Mrs. Amara Peeris due to her being out
of the country to seek surgical care for her husband. Her absence was much felt in the planning
process of the National Convention as well as in at the Convention itself.
A copy of the invitation including the program is annexed (Annex 6)
Accommodation and Meals
Places for accommodation for those who would be staying overnight and also the
arrangements for meals and refreshments for them, as well as on the convention day were
arranged by Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, the chief organizer of the project and the event.
Accommodation was arranged at CED Training Centre in Thalahena, Malabe and at Centre for
Society and Religion, Colombo by the CED and two other partner organizations (Apeshakthi
Kantha Sangamaya and Sama Sevaya organization) found their own accommodation by
themselves.
Media
Media was informed and invited to the event. Both the electronic and print media were invited
and this was organized and coordinated by Mr. Ranjith Wickramasinghe of the CED.
31
Banners, Name Tags, Food Coupons and Hand outs
Other accessories such as banners, name tags, food coupons and hand outs to be given at the
convention was also designed, translated where applicable and printed by the secretariat staff
with the assistance of the content experts and the Executive Committee.
The work done by Mr. Sasanka Pushpakumara at the CED secretariat in designing and getting
printed all this material within a very short period of time was commendable, as was the
contribution made by Director CED, Mr. Micheal Joachim in translating the material to Tamil with
great attentiveness. Mr. Chandana Bandara assisted in preparing the documents in Sinhalese.
Please see Annex 7 for a sample of Name Tags, Food Coupons for the event and Annex 8 and 9
for the Hand Out prepared to be distributed among the guests, media and participants in
English and Sinhalese respectively.
First Aid
Our newest member of the CED Secretariat team Mr. Iresh Chaturanga while being extremely
busy with making the necessary financial resources available for the event and coordinating
those necessary activities and correspondence with the bank, our CED officials Mr.
Elamaldeniya and Mr. Douglus Kumaratunga and the participating organizations also made
arrangements for St. John’s Ambulance Service to be present at the convention premises on the
convention day in case of an emergency or should a need for first aid arises, exhibiting his true
commitment for Health Promotion, which is his previous work area before joining CED.
Organizing Committee
Most of the Organizing Committee and Executive Committee members along with the CED staff
work round the clock on the day prior to the convention making the final preparations for the
event and decorating and making arrangements at the convention premises. Sub-committees
were appointed including a supervising committee to look into registration and logistical issues
of participants from each province at the day of the convention and other logistical issues such
as provision of food, security and accommodation at the day of the convention (See Table 8).
The Convention Day
Participants flocked to the Folk Arts Theatre at Battaramulla on the 13th of December 2008
morning from eight provinces of the country perhaps for the first time in Sri Lanka to take part in
a National Convention on Mothers Education which was the main and most important activity of
the campaign.
The security was tight anticipating the arrival of Honorable Minister of Education, Mr. Susil
Premajayanta. His security teams roamed the convention premises and adjoining areas adding
an air of seriousness to the event while media personnel representing electronic media took their
positions to capture the event.
Following are some of the moments captured on still camera by our photographers highlighting
the National Convention and its main attractions.
32
Table 8: Organizing Committee for the Convention
Sub-Committee Members
Advisory Committee Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Mr. I.M. Chandana Bandara
Finances Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Mr. Douglus Kumaratunga, Mr. Iresh
Chturanga, Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri
Chief Organizer Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri
Invitations Mr. I.M. Chandana Bandara, Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Dr. Ruchira
Kitsiri
Content Development Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Mr. I.M. Chandana Bandara, Mr.
Micheal Joachim, Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri, Mr.
Sasanka Pushpakumara
Media Coordination
and Recording
Mr. Ranjith Wickramasinghe, Mr. Sasanka Pushpakumara
Guest Reception Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya, Mr. I.M. Chandana Bandara, Mrs. Daya
Ariyawathie, Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Dr. Ruchira Kitsiri, Mrs. J.
Gallage
Mrs. Deepa Hettiarachchi
Accommodation, Meals
and Refreshments
Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri , Mr. Alexender Perera, Mr. Chaminda
Piyasekera, Mr. G.W. Rupatissa, Mr. Sasanka Pushpakumara
Security Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Mr. G.W. Rupatissa, Mr. Douglus
Kumaratunga
Decorations and
Environment
Maintenance
Mr. Ranjith Wickramasinghe
First Aid Mr. Iresh Chaturanga
Western Mr. K.D. Peiris
Sabaragamuwa Ms. J. Gallage
Southern Mrs. Deepa Hettiarachchi
North Western Ms. Sheela Wickramaratne
Central Mr. M.S.M. Sadeek
Eastern Mr. Lourdusamy
North Central Mr. Chaminda Piryasekera
Supervisory Committee
for Registration and
other logistics
Uva Mr. Alexendar Perera
The Stage Back drop
Photo 22: The stage back drop ‘the Mothers
Education National Convention’
Stage back drop was decorated with banners
depicting the Mothers Education Campaign and
the sponsors of the campaign in both Sinhalese and
Tamil. Shown here is the Sinhalese banner that was
displayed at the stage
33
Arrival of Mothers at the Convention
Mothers arrived at the convention early morning led by our CED partner organization
coordinators from the respective organizations.
Photos 23 & 24: Participants from all over the island arriving at the Convention Centre in
Pelawatta, Battaramulla carrying banners on the 13th December 2008, morning.
Photos 25 & 26: More of the participants arriving at the Convention Centre
Some of them were seen carrying and displaying the banners highlighting the importance of
literacy which were used by their organizations to create public awareness in their localities
giving more color to the event.
Photo 27: Registration in Progress
Mothers queued at the registration desk according
where they were registered according to their
organization and provinces of representation by the
supervisory committee appointed. Basic instructions
on food and refreshments and identification material
were also given to them at this point before entering
the convention hall which was done after a security
check.
34
Photo 28: Entering the Convention Centre
Following registration at the registration desk mothers lined
up to enter the convention hall
Photo 29: Security personnel at the convention
checking the mothers entering the convention hall
The security was tight at the Convention Centre
anticipating the participation of Hon. Minister of
Education, Mr. Susil Premajayantha.
Official security was provided to the event by Sri
Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Army and Minister Susil
Premajayanta’s personal security teams.
Photos 30 & 31: Participants taking seats inside the hall
Participants took seats inside the convention hall after going through the initial registration
process and security checks.
35
Guests : Disappointments and Achievements
Participation of the Minister of Education was cancelled at the last moment due to security
reasons prevailing in the country to the much disappointment of the organizers, participant
mothers and the media personnel. CED was informed by the minister that he was unable to
participate following instructions given to him by his security personnel as there was a large
gathering and participants from all the provinces in the country at the event.
However, Deputy Director of Education, Department of Non -Formal Education, Mrs. G.Y.
Wijesuriya represented the Ministry of Education and its policy makers at the convention. Mr. K.
Kekulandara, Secretary of Education, Ministry of Education, Central Province; Dr. Godwin
Kodituwakku, Director, National Institute of Education (NIE) were among the other policy makers
that were present at the occasion.
Mr. Kamal Herath, Advisor – Education, Plan Sri Lanka and Mr. Senaratne De Silva, National
Coordinator for the Desha Hithaishee Movement were the other distinguished guests that were
present at the convention.
Lighting the traditional oil lamp
After mothers from all the provinces and guests arrived and took their respective seats the
proceedings of the convention were initiated by lighting the traditional oil lamp and religious
observations by the gathering.
Photo 32: Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya,
Chairman CED, Mr. K. Kekulandara,
Secretary of Education, Central Province
and Mr. Kamal Herath from Plan Sri Lanka
lighting the traditional oil lamp.
Photo 33: Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya inviting
other guests and provincial representatives
to light the oil lamp. Mr, Ranjith
Wickramasinghe, Secretary CED looks on.
Photo 34: representatives from each province and
representatives from various mother communities
that were present, lighting the oil lamp
Ten mothers representing the eight provinces and
other participating communities joined the
distinguished guests in lighting the oil lamp.
36
Mrs. A.A. Swaheera from Eastern Province, Mrs. Chandra
Wickramarachchi from Western Province, Trileeshiya
Obeysekera from fisher folk community of North Western
Province, Mrs. D.M. Ratnawalee from North Central
Province, Ms. Raja Lakshmie from Central Province, Mrs.
Soma Ratnayake from Uva Province, Ms. Renuka
Chandrakanthie from Sabaragamuwa Province, Mrs. K.P.
I. Piyadasa from Southern Province, Mrs. Godage Jayalath
Shriyanie representing mothers of street children and Ms.
Uruwarige Vimalawathie representing the indigenous
people’s community lighted the traditional oil lamp on
behalf of their respective communities.
Photo 35: Mothers observing religion prior to the proceedings of the day
Following the lighting of the oil lamp everyone in the audience engaged in observing religion
prior to the commencement of the days’ program.
Welcome
Photo 36: CED Chairman, Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya
welcomes the gathering.
CED Director, Child Rights and Participation, Mr.
Micheal Joachim translated the speech to Tamil
language.
CED Chairman, Mr. Charles Elamaldeniya welcomed
the invitees and the mothers on behalf of Coalition
for Educational Development. He introduced the
CED and progression of its activities to the audience
especially with regards to advocacy activities in
relation to Educational Development in Sri Lanka.
Here speaking of the past activities of the Coalition he highlighted one of the first activities that
was undertook by the CED that is the revision of the Education Act in Sri Lanka and success of
the activity which ended up in appointing a committee by the government to revise the
education act which was highly outdated. The government not only appointed a committee on
this but also appointed then National Coordinator of the CED Dr. G. B. Gunawardena as the
Chairman of this newly appointed committee.
Mr. Elamaldeniya took the opportunity to thank the Minister of Education and the President of Sri
Lanka Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse on behalf of all at CED, for the prompt action taken in this regard
as well as Dr. G. B. Gunawardena for his efforts in preparing the National Framework 2007 – 2008
of CED.
He also spoke of the high achievement of Sri Lanka in terms of literacy rate and education in the
region in comparison to other countries but the fact that still we have not achieved 100% school
enrolment in the country and relevance of adult and especially mothers’ education in
achieving this goal in time to come and the need for policy formulations in this regard.
37
Photo 37: Section of mothers in the audience Photo 38: Distinguished Guests and CED
officials in the audience
The Pledge
Photo 39: Mothers taking the pledge to work towards Adult and
Mothers Education in the country along with CED Sri Lanka
Following the welcome the participating mothers and the audience
took a pledge to join hands with the Coalition for Educational
Development to ensure the Right for Education for All without any
discrimination, to achieve 100% quality compulsory free education up
to the age of 16 and to work especially towards adult and mothers
education in the country. A Sinhala copy of the pledge is annexed
(Annex 10).
Photos 40, 41 & 42: Mothers and the participants taking the pledge
at Mothers Education National Convention
38
The Speeches
There were several speeches by the CED officials, guests and the policy makers which were
delivered at the convention. The speeches were translated for the Tamil audience by Mr.
Micheal Joachim of CED
The Purpose of Mothers Education National Convention
Photo 43: Mr. Chandana Bandara, Director, Adult
and Inclusive Education, CED, explaining the
purpose of the Mothers Education Project and
National Convention to the gathering.
Mr. Micheal Joachim interpreted the speech for
the Tamil audience.
Addressing the audience Mr. I.M. Chandana
Bandara explained the purpose of the National
Convention and stressed the importance of now
neglected adult education with special emphasis
to mothers’ education as there are approximately
about 2,000,000 adults whose literacy levels are below the standards. The fact that most of them
are females and mothers too was highlighted.
Thus the need for policy formulation directed these adults and mothers were pointed out to
national and provincial educational officials that were present. He also mentioned the CED and
its partners’ commitment to make a voice in this regard and the great enthusiasm shown by the
partners of the CED in participating for the National Convention.
Therefore he formally requested the education policy makers of the country to focus their
attention to the issue of Mothers education at all levels ranging from village level to national
level.
Guest Speech: Importance of Mothers Education
Photo 44: One of the distinguished guests, Mr.
Senaratne De Silva, National Coordinator – Desha
Hithayshee Association, addressing the audience
Addressing the gathering one of the event’s
distinguished guests Mr. Senaratne De Silva,
National Coordinator of Desha Hithayshee
Association spoke on mothers and their role in
building nations and development process and
thus the importance of mothers’ education.
He also raised the question if the crises that the
country and the world are facing today, a result of
ignoring this aspect of giving their due role and rights for the mothers of younger generations.
39
Voice of the Mothers at the Convention
However these speeches of learned people which are frequently heard on stages and other
places were submerged by the voices of the mothers who got the opportunity of coming to the
stage for the first time in their lives, and presenting their views in their own day to day talking
style.
This was one very special feature of this event, in that it attempted to focus the educationalists
and policy makers attention on the theme of adult and mothers education not by presenting
mere concepts, but by bringing them to a common platform shared by mothers representing
most remotely located, disadvantaged communities across the country, which seem to have
escaped the interest and attention of most high ranking officials over the years.
CED Sri Lanka not only brought this multiple stakeholders to a single platform on a single day it
created a space, so that the mothers themselves could directly address the policy makers and
officials present on the occasion.
These mothers may have been illiterate but they showed to the audience present that they are
not without courage and qualities of leadership to address a large gathering and present their
ideas in public in front country’s leading media organizations.
Photo 45: A mother representing the Eastern
Province Muslim Community addressing the
audience.
Photo 46: Mrs. Nilanthi Shiromi Seneviratne
from North Central Province addressed the
convention on behalf of mothers of children
with special needs
There were mothers speaking on behalf of each major ethnic community in the country. Thus
there were a mother representing the Muslim Community from the Eastern Province, then
Sinhalese community and the Tamil community and mothers representing special groups of
communities.
Mrs. I. Saheera spoke on behalf of the mothers of the Muslim Community of the Eastern Province.
The mothers, educational officials, representatives of the non government organizations filled
to capacity at the Janakala Kendraya at Pelawatte listened attentively while their hearts crying
out silently and showing solidarity with Mrs. Nilanthi Shiromi Seneviratne of North Central Province
40
when she spoke her heart out and sharing her story attending the Mothers Education
Convention.
She represented a very special group of mothers who have children with special needs and
brought to the attention of the gathered how important it is to educate the mothers of children
with special needs on how to educate their children as it requires special skills and knowledge
which sometimes could only be easily accessible only in the urban areas of the country.
Likewise there were many a heartfelt stories that came out at the convention stage, which was
shared by the rest of the mothers and officials alike.
Photo 47: Mrs. R Kamachi representing the
plantation community coming from Lower
Lawrence , Plantation Norwood singing a song and
speaking to the crowd.
For example Mrs. R Kamachi representing the
plantation community coming from Lower
Lawrence , Plantation Norwood, started singing a
song highlighting the importance of education
and how you need to “worship the God of
wisdom” every day - may be that she did not know
the meaning of all the words she sang . She too
had a touching story to share with the rest of the gathering.
She said “I do not know how to write or read but I remember these songs because my mother
taught them. I know many of these songs. Unfortunately my parents did not send me to school
because they were poor and were not educated. But I know that I have lost so much by not
having the opportunity of going to school. We are exploited at all levels. In addition to this our
blood is sucked by the leaches every day in our working field , the income we get is so
merger it is a hand to mouth struggle for life every day.”
“But we are determined to educate our children because that is the only salvation for them.
We do not want our children to suffer like us. You all are telling us to learn, All this time I did not
think it is important, what education at this stage? But all the mothers here are saying that
they want to learn. Now I too think it is important”
The voice of Mrs. Uru Warige Anulawathie representing the Indigenous ‘Veddah’ Community
drew the attention of the crowd and the media alike.
“ I understand the disadvantage a mother being not literate, when our children come from
school and ask us questions about their school work we are unable to help them ,you feel
helpless and sad that you are unable to help them. Leave a side helping the child, we cannot
even a read a bus board, and have to seek the assistance of others. Our children attend
schools with many difficulties, our heart cries when we see the distance the children had to walk
and the dangers they face on the way.
41
Photo 48: Mrs. Uru Warige Anulawathie
representing the Indigenous ‘Veddah’ Community.
We only know the anguish of mother when we
have to wait impatiently every day till they come
home safe. Think how sad we feel when the child
has no safety or peace of mind even at home to
study. We have to make sure that we will be able
wake up safe in the morning escaping the attacks
of the wild elephants. How can the child
concentrate on studies in this situation? With all
these difficulties in life we would still be happy if we
can help our children in some way – the only way is to educate ourselves –Please think seriously
about this” was her plea to the hundreds of participants at the convention.
In addition some mothers went on to show their many skills and
talents by entertaining the audience by presenting dances and
singing songs and showed that their capacity and potential is still
there though they are of a lower educational and literary
background.
Photo 49: Three mothers representing fisher folk community of the
North Western Province performing a dance to a folk song by
them.
The performance made by Wijeylakshmie, Shriyani and Marie
Shanthie of the fisher folk community mothers from the North
Western Province singing a song in the style a ‘Virindu’ Sural and
dancing was an attractive feature of the event.
This event was organized by CED partner Mihikatha Environment Organization in Mahawewa,
North Western Province. The song sung was composed especially for the occasion by Mr.
Rohana Maddumarala and addressed the theme of Education for All and importance of not
neglecting the education of future generation.
These entertainments of the mothers were supported by songs sung by child singers from the
Music CD produced by CED Sri Lanka to celebrate International Children’s Day in year 2008
which was on sale at the convention premises. These songs too were composed around the
theme of education.
42
Photos 50 & 51: Songs by child singers presented at the convention for the pleasure of the audience
The Closing
The Policy Makers’ Speeches
Photo 52: One of the Chief Guests, Mr. K. Kekurandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education,
Central Province addressing the gathering.
Photo 53: The Chief Guest, Mrs. G Y Wijesuriya, Deputy Director, Department of Non formal
Education, Ministry of Education addressing the gathering in the absence of Minister of
Education on behalf of the national policy makers on education.
Last but not least the audience had the opportunity to listen to what the policy makers had to
say. Mr. K Kekulandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Central Province and, Mrs. G Y
Wijesuriya, Deputy Director, Department of Non formal Education, Ministry of Education spoke
on the importance of Mothers Education and elaborated the facilities available in the national
education system for adult education, while also stressing the point that even with their level of
“illiteracy”, and the obstacles faced in receiving education when they were children , the
mothers have always played the major role in furthering the education of the children in the
43
past and accepted that there is a need to play this role in a more capacitated manner in the
future.
Award of Gifts
The mothers who spoke and performed were given gifts sponsored by the Coalition for
Educational Development to appreciate and encourage their contribution and participation in
the campaign.
Gifts were awarded by the distinguished guests to the occasion.
Photos 54, 55 & 56: Dr. Godwin Gunawardena, Director National Institute of Education (NIE), Mrs.
G. Y. Wijesuriya, Deputy Director, Department of Non Formal Education, Ministry of Education
and Mr. K Kekulandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Central Province awarding gifts to
the mothers.
The vote of thanks
As all good things must come to an end,
the National Convention on Mothers
Education too came to an end leaving the
memories and thoughts on improving
mothers education in Sri Lanka in the hearts
and minds of those gathered at the
convention centre. CED Director Mr.
Nishantha Kasthuri and the Chief organizer
of the campaign thanked everyone who
participated and contributed to make the
campaign a success.
Photo 57: Delivering of vote of thanks by
CED’s Mr. Nishantha Kasthuri, Chief
Organizer of the Mothers Education 2008.
44
Photos 58 & 59: The media eagerly capturing the event on their cameras
Photo 60: The compeers for the event
The Participants
The total number of mothers that participated at the National Convention amounted to 478. In
addition to that there were 75 participants from CED partner organizations (excluding CED
Secretariat staff, which is three in number) that accompanied mothers and coordinated
activities at the convention including the officials of the coalition.
Table 9, 10, 11 and 12 summarizes participation by districts, organizations and by provinces
respectively in detail for reference.
It should be noted that some of the organizations that reported their local activities could not
participate the national event due to transport, accommodation, budgetary and other
unforeseen constraints and also some of the organizations that did not take part in the initial
planning meeting was allowed to take part in the national convention due to the requests
made by them and also to represent and mobilize a wide range of mother groups in the overall
campaign. Furthermore participation of some organizations have to be compromised specially
to achieve the latter.
These participants represented 8 out of 9 Provinces and 18 out of 24 districts of the country and
are from 39 organizations.
Kurunegala, Ratnapura and Putlam are the districts with the highest number of participation to
the national convention. While Trincomalee and Moneragala ranked the lowest in the list.
Table 10 gives in detail the participants from different organizations representing the districts and
provinces including the names of the participating organizations.
In considering the provincial participation as shown in Table 11 below North Western, North
Central, Central and Sabaragamuwa were the provinces with highest participation to the
National event.
However it should be noted that this is no way a reflection of neither the interest of the local
partners nor distribution of mothers with low literary levels in the country as participation was
45
limited and even compromised in certain cases on the request of the organizers depending on
the budgetary limitations and feasibility.
Number of organizations participated from each district and province are summarized in the
Table 12 for reference.
Table 9: Number of Participants by District
Participation
Province District Female
(Mothers) Male Total
Gampaha 12 3 15
Colombo 10 2 12 Western
Kalutara 23 4 27
Ratnapura 60 7 67 Sabaragamuwa
Kegalle 14 3 17
Galle 15 1 16 Southern
Matara 28 4 32
Kurunegala 68 8 76 North Western
Putlam 55 7 62
Nuwara Eliya 33 10 43
Kandy 29 3 32 Central
Matale 13 2 15
Uva Moneragala 6 1 7
Anuradhapura 44 5 49 North Central
Polonnaruwa 45 8 53
Trincomalee - 1 1
Batticaloa 13 3 16 Eastern
Ampara 10 3 13
Total 18 478 75 553
Table 11: Provincial Participation
Participation
Female
(Mothers) Male Total Province
No No No %
Western 45 9 54 9.8
Sabaragamuwa 74 10 84 15.2
Southern 43 5 48 8.7
North Western 123 15 138 25.0
Central 75 15 90 16.2
Uva 6 1 7 1.3
North Central 89 13 102 18.4
Eastern 23 7 30 5.4
Total 478 75 553 100.0
46
Female Male Total
Gampaha Rural Women’s Foundation (RWF) 12 3 15
Colombo ‘Sanhinda’ Children’s Home 10 2 12
Kalutara Diriya Kantha Foundation 23 4 27
Ekabadda Praja Sanwardana Kantha Maha
Sangamaya 15 1 16Organisation of Environment & Children Rights
Preservation 45 5 50Environment & Community Development
Information Centre 1 1Association of Social Activities Development
(ASAD) 1 1 2
Dehiowita People Development Foundation 13 2 15
Galle DEHERM Organization 15 1 16
Tissajaya Children’s Welfare Foundation 26 4 30
Visura Development Foundation 2 2
Child and Youth Development Centre 16 1 17
Prathibha Children’s Development Foundation 14 2 16
Child and Women Development Centre 11 1 12
Wayamba Govi Kantha Sansadaya 14 3 17
Women Development Foundation 13 1 14
Mihikatha Environmental Organisation 14 2 16
Sarvodaya Shramdana Sangamaya 26 4 30
Vinivida Organisation 15 1 16
Hearts (Social Welfare Development Source) 8 2 10
Nawayugam Social Development Centre (NSDF) 14 4 18
Social Welfare Development Forum (SWDF) 11 4 15Centre for Plantation Rural Community
Development (CPRCD) 15 2 17Plantation Rural Economic Development
Organization (PREDO) 14 1 15
Janasarana Educational Development Services 13 1 14Sithuwama Training Education & Development
Organisation 1 1
Uva Wellassa Farmer Women’s Organization 6 6Socio Economic & Environment Development
Organisation 1 1
Sahana Association for the Disabled 14 2 16
Samasevaya 30 2 32
Human Rights Community Eduaction Centre
1 1
Ape Shakthi Kantha Sangamaya 14 2 16
Gamisarana Maha Sangamaya 1 1
Sri Lanka Rural Development Foundation 16 2 18Drug Prevention & Environment Preservation
Organization 14 4 18
Trincomalee KERD Foundation 1 1
Women Development Forum 7 1 8
Kind Heart 6 2 8
AmparaSocio-Economic Environment Development
Organisation (SEEDO) 10 3 13
8 18 39 478 75 553
Eastern
Anuradhapura
Monaragala
Matale
Central
Uva
Batticaloa
Nuwara Eliya
Kurunegala
Putlam
Table 10: Total Number of Participants by Orgnization
ParticipantsOrganization
Ratnapura
Kegalle
Province
Matara
North Central
Kandy
Polonnaruwa
District
North Western
Southern
Sabaragmuwa
Western
47
The Other Participants
Policy Makers
National - Mrs. G Y Wijesuriya, Deputy Director, Department of Non formal
Education,
Ministry of Education
Dr. Godwin Kodituwakku, Director, National institute of Education (NIE)
Provincial - Mr. K Kekulandara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Central
Province
Invited Guests
Mr. Kamal Herath, Advisor Education, Plan Sri Lanka
Mr. Senaratna De Silva, National Coordinator, Desha Hithayshee association
Table 12: Organizational Participation
Province
No. of
Organizations
Participated
District
No. of
Organizations
Participated
Gampaha 1
Colombo 1 Western 3
Kalutara 1
Ratnapura 3 Sabaragamuwa 5
Kegalle 2
Galle 1 Southern 3
Matara 2
Kurunegala 5 North Western 8
Putlam 3
Nuwara Eliya 3
Kandy 2 Central 7
Matale 2
Uva 2 Moneragala 2
Anuradhapura 3 North Central 7
Polonnaruwa 4
Trincomalee 1
Batticaloa 2 Eastern 4
Ampara 1
Total 39 18 39
48
5 A Summary of the Outcomes and Achievements
of the Mothers Education Campaign
- Awareness among 60 CED partner organizations regarding Adult/Mothers Education was
created.
- More than 40 partner organizations were directly mobilized in their respective provinces
and localities to carry out awareness programs regarding Adult/Mothers Education
which also included selecting and mobilizing the most disadvantaged
community/mother groups for advocacy in provincial and national levels.
- A total of 806 mothers were educated and mobilized provincially regarding mothers
education
- These mothers represented 8 provinces and 18 districts of the country and included all
three main ethnic groups and a wide spectrum of disadvantaged communities with low
literacy levels.
- Local level educationalists and policy makers were educated on the importance of
Mothers Education through these local/provincial activities.
- Stigma associated with low literacy was reduced in some localities and mothers
themselves accepted and acknowledged the importance of educating adults and
mothers.
- Approximately 40 organizations were mobilized nationally for a national convention on
Mothers Education in Sri Lanka perhaps a first in the country.
- A total of 478 mothers from 18 districts and 8 provinces were directly mobilized to the
national level to carry out a national level advocacy program for Adult/Mothers
Education.
- 75 members of CED partner organizations were directly mobilized for the same purpose.
- Thus making a total of 553 individuals taking a pledge at the National Convention on
Mothers Education to work with CED to uplift the Adult/Mothers Education in the country.
- Perhaps for the first time in the country the representative of disadvantaged community
members themselves met the National and Provincial Policy Makers to advocate for the
cause of Adult/Mothers Education in a single platform along with the media
- Wide media coverage was received for the event as well as for the CED as an
organization that carry out advocacy in the education sector.
- A platform was created to discuss the importance of adult/mothers education both at
local and national level.
49
- Provincial and National level educationalists were made aware of the concept of
Mothers Education in relation to Adult Education including the Minister of Education
himself.
- Other International Non-Governmental Organizations that work in the education sector
were made aware of the Mothers Education and importance of it in the country’s Adult
Education Program and CED’s work in relation to these in line with Education for All and
Millennium Development Goals.
- CED’s capacity and its partner organizations’ capacity in relation to organizing provincial
and national level events and mobilizing relevant communities for these, aiming policy
advocacy was enhanced in general and especially with regards to Adult/Mothers
Education.
- Position of the CED as an organization that carry out advocacy programs in the
education sector was strengthened so was its recognition among policy makers, public
and other non-governmental organizations.
Media and Publicity
Photo 61: CED making its presence felt as an organization
dedicated to uplift the educational needs of the country.
Most of the country’s leading electronic and print media
institutions and organizations were invited to the National
Convention to capture and report the event . A video
footage of the event was also prepared by the CED and
delivered to ‘Swarnavahinie’ and ‘Derana ‘ private media
institutions who’s visual teams were not present at the event to
capture the event.
As a result the event was featured in one of the National
Television News Telecasts ‘Esanin Puwath’ on the following day
giving the event the widest possible media coverage.
Furthermore a feature article in English and Tamil languages
was submitted to the respective print media out of which Tamil
language article had been given a high prominence by the respective Tamil News Papers.
In addition to the media coverage through electronic and print media the event was notified
including invitation to all the Provincial Government Education Officials and all the country representatives of the International Non Governmental Organizations that work on education in
the country.
The objective of this was not only to popularize and create awareness of Adult/Mothers
Education per se but also to give the widest publicity possible to the CED and position itself as
50
an organization that carry out advocacy programs in the country’s education among the
multiple stakeholders such as the Government, International and Local Non-
Governmental Organizations and the Public at large.
The Policy Advocacy
The two main policies relevant to Mothers Education were addresses by this short campaign in
general. The two policies are the Adult Education Policy and the Non-Formal Education Policy.
According to the background work carried out by the CED Sri Lanka it seems like both the
Education Ministry and the Ministry of Social Services are responsible in implementing activities in
these subject areas but to this date though there seem to be some activities in the Non Formal
Education sector carried out by Provincial Ministries of Education there seem to be not much
progress in terms of Adult Education and Mothers Education, which is an area that needs to be
highly advocated on if Sri Lanka is to achieve the goals of Education for All and Millennium
Development Goals by the UNESCO and United Nations within the given time frame
51
Annexes
52
Annex 01
Mothers Education 2008
Project Proposal
Mothers
Education
Project Proposal -
2008
Coalition for Educational
Development
917/2, Ethul Kotte, Kotte,
Sri Lanka
53
Contents
Page
1.0 Introduction, Background and Justification of the Project. 03
2.0 Objective 04
3.0 Main Activities Planned 05
4.0 Methodology 05
5.0 Time Schedule 06
6.0 Budget 06
54
1.0 Introduction, Background and Justification of the Project.
Though it is true that there is a considerable decrease in the number of children who are out-of-
school, despite substantial efforts by Governments, Non Government Organizations and other
parties interested in education promotion and also despite the high economic growth rates
reported across many countries “Education for All” still remains a distant goal in the regions of
Asia and South Pacific. This is true in the Sri Lankan context as well, especially with regards to the
EFA goals 3 and 4 where promoting life skills and lifelong learning and improving adult literacy
rate are the key objectives.
In the backdrop of the lack of active participation and lethargic attitude of the Sri Lankan Civil
Society in “educational Policy” matters the concepts of “life skills and lifelong learning” though
present have still not been considered as matters that need active attention by the society as
a whole.
When it comes to literacy rate, though Sri Lanka is considered to have a very high overall literacy
rate of 91.5%, whether this is true in a practical sense is doubtful due to many reasons. One
reason being the definition of literacy itself, if considered as the ability to write their own name,
though the percentage of people who could successfully do it may be high, it may not reflect
their true writing and reading skills which could be considered as “functional literacy”. There is no
doubt that the functional literacy rate is well below the recorded rates. In addition to this,
disparities exist in different geographical locations which have varying levels of development, as
well as different communities, which is especially true for some selected disadvantaged
communities. These communities include the plantation sector, the fisheries community, minority
communities like the indigenous people and the gypsy community, people living in urban slums,
street children, children whose parents/mothers have migrated for employment, and those who
have internally displaced due to the ethnic conflict, natural and other manmade disasters.
Though many measures have been taken to improve the quality of life and the standard of living
of most of these disadvantaged groups, specific measures to include them in education is not
effective enough which contributes to the delays in achieving the target of ensuring “Education
for All”.
The concept and the actual activity of ‘Mothers Education’ therefore play an important role in
overcoming the identified obstacles in the field of education in the country, as mothers are
considered as persons who could play a major role in influencing the family and its children’s
education. Thus improving the quality and level of “Mother’s Education” will directly and
indirectly facilitate the process of achieving quality education for all. With this background in
mind the project in subject is designed to achieve the following main objective.
55
2.0 Objective
The main objective is to advocate the policy makers in order to effect the necessary changes in
the existing “national adult education policy” in such a way that it gives more prominence to
women and especially to “mothers education”
2.1 Specific Objectives
1. Mobilizing women especially the mothers from the disadvantaged communities to
come together and build up a border national alliance to advocate for desired change
of “adult education policy”.
2. To build up a common consciences that there is a vacuum in the present adult
education policy by not recognizing the importance of improving educational standards
of women especially the mothers.
3. Creating a platform for women in the provincial and National level to raise their voice
to draw the attention of the policy makers about the need for a “gender sensitive
adult education policy”
2.2 Expected Outcomes
1. Direct and active participation of 60 partners of CED in mobilizing mothers for an
advocacy programme to emphasize mother’s education ensured.
2. More than 1000 poor, vulnerable , marginalized , illiterate mothers from 6 provinces
acquire knowledge and practice about importance of education of their children and
of their own through village divisional ,district and provincial level awareness
campaign .
3. Attitudes of most vulnerable mothers are changed and enhanced to be interested in
education and leadership qualities , literacy and socialization ect.
4. More than 1000 vulnerable mothers participate in the convention for mothers to
agitate for an improved gender sensitive adult education policy
5. Attitudes of most vulnerable mothers are changed and enhanced interest to make
them realize that they cannot be dormant and inactive spectators in influencing
educational policies, but could make an effective impact on policy changes.
6. CED would further strengthen its credibility with the Provincial and Central Education
Department about its ability to mobilize people to advocate for policy changes in the
field of education.
7. Provincial policy makers will give their attention to change their strategies on adult
education policy and utilize resources to enhance mother’s education and adult
education of their respective provinces.
8. National policy makers will give their attention to improve and change adult education
policy to utilize resources to enhance adult education in country.
9. Policy makers and other stakeholders will realize that adult education and mothers
education improvement is a key need of province and country through media
publications
56
3.0 Main Activities Planned
To hold a national level convention with the participation of mothers from six provinces
representing the disadvantaged communities to gain publicity , to draw the attention
of the policy makers with regard to the identified deficiencies in the present adult
educational policy and in order to use it as a leverage in advocating the policy
makers for desired change.
4.0 Methodology
Activities for Output 1,2, & 3
4.1 Making use of the International Literacy day on the 8th September to stress the
importance of improving the literacy of women especially the mothers, with the
intention of holding the mothers convention in November.
4.2 Conducting awareness programs for mothers at the village , district and
provincial level by partner organizations as part of their own contribution towards the
success of the advocacy campaign.
4.3 Gathering of about 1000 mothers through the 60 partner organizations of CED and
other Civil Society Organizations from all the provinces to a selected location in the
Capital city with the intention of mobilizing them for a mass scale advocacy program.
Activities for Outputs 3 & 4
4.4 Holding a convention and workshops in order to draw the attention of the policy
makers with regard to the identified deficiencies in the present adult educational policy
in the country.
4.5 Giving adequate media coverage through a poster campaign from all
representative organizations and provinces along with the use of electronic and print
media.
4.6 Use the publicity and the information gathered from the convention to advocate
the policy makers on adult/female and mothers education.
The above activities would collectively bring about the outcome 5, 6,7.8 and 9.
57
5.0 Time Schedule
No. Activity September October November December
1. Planning Meeting 1st week
2. Invitation to CED Coordinators,
stakeholders and mothers
groups
3rd week
3. Awareness programs for
selected mothers by partner
organization
1st week
4. Banner Display From 2nd
week
5. Media discussion From 3rd
week
To 4th
week
6. Conducting the National level
convention for mothers with
National and Provincial level
stakeholders
2nd week
7. Feedback from the participants
including stake holders
From 1st
week to
4th week
6.0 Budget
Activity Total Cost From CED/ PO From ASPBAE From ASPBAE
In Rs. In Dollars
1 Planning Meeting 20,000.00 20,000.00 -
2 Invitation to CED Coordinators, stakeholders and mothers groups 12,500.00 12,500.00 125.00
3 Awareness programs for selected mothers by partner organization 400,000.00 400,000.00
4 Banner Display 127,800.00 63,900.00 63,900.00 639.00
5 Media discussion 100,000.00 40,000.00 60,000.00 600.00
6 Conducting the National level convention 750,000.00 50,000.00 700,000.00 7,000.00
7 Transport 340,000.00 120,000.00 220,000.00 2,200.00
8 Administrative Cost 135,030.00 135,030.00 1,350.30
Total 1,885,330.00 693,900.00 1,191,430.00 11,914.30
58
Annex 2
The Presentation made at the Mothers Education Project Awareness and Planning
Meeting for CED Partner Organizations held at CHPB, Pelawatta, Battaramulla on 2nd
October 2008 (English)
59
60
61
62
Annex 3
The Presentation made at the Mothers Education Project Awareness and Planning Meeting for
CED Partner Organizations held at CHPB, Pelawatta, Battaramulla on 2nd October 2008
(Sinahala)
63
64
65
66
Annex 4
Attendance of the October 2nd, 2008 Planning Meeting for CED Local Partner Organizations
67
68
Annex 5
The Navayugam Social Welfare Development Forum (NSDF)’s report of local level
Mothers Education Project activity in the Nuwara Eliya district of Central Province.
69
70
Annex 6
Invitation and the Programme of the National Convention
Outer Cover
Inner cover
71
Annex 7
Name Tags and Food Coupons of the Mothers Education National Convention
Name tags from different colors were designed for different participants
Food Coupons
72
Annex 8
Hand Out – English
73
74
Annex 9
Hand Out – Sinhala
75
76
Annex 10
The Pledge
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jeäysá wOHdmkhg yd úfYaIfhka uõjrekaf.a wOHdmkhg iqúfYaIS ie<ls,a,la oelajsh hq;= hehs wm ;rfha úYajdi lrkafkuq'
ish¿u orejkag ksoyia wksjd¾H wOHdmkh, jhi wjq 16 olajd .=Kd;aulNdjfhka hq;=j ,eìh hq;= hhs wms ;rfha úYajdi lrkafkuq'
fuu mrud¾: idlaId;a lr .eksu ioyd wOHdmk ixj¾Ok ixOdkh iu. w;aje,a neo .ksñka ksr;=reju lghq;= lrk njg wms fuhska m%;s{d fokafkuq'
77
Annex 11: Attendance of the Mothers Education National Convention
78
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