THE IMPLEMENTATION OF DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION BY THE SARVODAYA SHRAMADANA MOVEMENT OF SRI LANKA

Abstract

The foundation f o r the development of any s o c i e t y depends on the e f f e c t i v e investment on i t s human r e s o u r c e s . The q u a l i t y o f the human b e i n g s who c o n s t i t u t e s o c i e t y determines i t s s t a b i l i t y and p r o g r e s s . The fundamental importance o f e d u c a t i o n f o r human development has been acknowledged by c i v i l i z e d s o c i e t i e s a l l o v e r the w o r l d . The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement which s t a r t e d as an educational experiment i n 1958 has p i o n e e r e d human development f o r o v e r t h r e e decades From humble beginnings i t has grown up to be one o f the l a r g e s t people's development agencies found anywhere i n the world. Sarvodaya's unique i d e n t i t y and i t s n o v e l approach to development s p r i n g s from the i n s p i r a t i o n i t has d e r i v e d from Buddhism. ihe Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement c o n s i d e r s education an i n d i s p e n s a b l e element of i t s i n t e g r a t e d plan f o r community development.