Australian High Commission
Colombo
MEDIA RELEASE
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24 February 2009
Australia to Provide Rs405 Million to Improve Basic Education in Rural Areas
Education at more than 600 Sri Lankan schools today received an enormous boost with the Australian Government’s signing of Rs 405million support.The High Commissioner for Australia, Ms Kathy Klugman, on behalf of the Australian Government signed Memorandums of Understanding with Mr Smith Abeysinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, and with Mr Philippe Duamelle, Country Representative, on behalf of UNICEF, for Australian grant funding of Rs 405 million (A$ 5.7 million) to be utilized over three and half years for the Basic Education Support Program (BESP) in Sri Lanka.
The BESP, a new partnership between the Ministry of Education, AusAID and UNICEF will assist 600 to 800 rural schools and more than 250,000 children, including those who are marginalised, vulnerable and living with disabilities in less developed areas, in Moneragala, Badulla, Ampara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Nuwara Eliya districts through the Child Friendly School (CFS) initiative.
In addition to improving access and quality of education in the target areas, the CFS initiative helps to promote social cohesion and inclusiveness between communities from different ethnic, religion and language backgrounds.
“Education is a cornerstone for development everywhere,” said the High Commissioner for Australia, Ms Kathy Klugman. “The Australian Government is very pleased to be able to assist the Government of Sri Lanka achieve its aim of universal completion of primary education and improved learning achievements, through the establishment of more child-friendly schools in the target districts”.
“This new three year program highlights the Australian Governments ongoing commitment to working in partnership with countries in the Asia Pacific region to achieve Millennium Development Goals,” Ms Klugman said.
Total Australian development assistance to Sri Lanka in the 2008/2009 financial year is estimated at $A27 million. Priority areas of assistance include basic education, improved natural resource management, human resource development (scholarships), improved livelihoods, and humanitarian assistance to assist civilians displaced and otherwise affected by conflict in northern Sri Lanka.