It is in the early years the child’s mind is in the making. The early childhood development, the growth that takes place from pre–conception until age six, is therefore known to be the most crucial period since the most significant brain growth occurs during this time. In the efforts to promote the healthy growth, integral development of young children and to achieve universal primary education through Millennium Development Goals, UNDP ART GOLD Sri Lanka is supporting this cause through its early childhood development initiatives in the Southern Province. The issues pertaining to the sector are mainly the lack of a proper mechanism to guarantee a high quality early childhood education and required facilities. AGSL initiative on the early childhood development which is carried out in partnership with Provincial Ministry of Education, relevant Pradeshya Sabhas, Divisional secretariats, Zonal Education offices, teachers associations and parents associations in the Province envisions persuading communities and all levels of government sharing a commitment to the early years of young children that promotes healthy children and responsible families living in safe, caring and inclusive communities.

 Twelve two-day workshops were conducted on capacity development of the preschool teachers from May to September 2009. The workshop sessions were on the preschool education and child psychology. For each workshop, sixty participants (preschool teachers from all three districts of the Province) were selected from the respective Education zone. However, as this programme is beneficial to the teachers who do not have access to get this kid of training and awareness, there had been an overwhelming number of participants who were requesting to participate in the programme. The participants were highly appreciative of the programme and requested to conduct more programmes of the caliber.