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| Tuesday, 24 June 2003 |
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"I think there is no other time as appropriate and fitting as of now to publish a book on "Technical Vocational Education". We must congratulate Professor Siriwardene for his timely endeavour. We all know that it is a well complexed scenario in which that Sri Lanka has to, at this stage-managed its strategy for socio economic development. Globalization of trade, Information Communication and Technology now necessitates for growth the creation of a Knowledge Based Economy (KBE)," said Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, Minister of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs, addressing the audience at the book launching ceremony recently. Professor P. P. G. L. Siriwardene, the ex Vice Chancellor and the Consultant of UNDP, has published his new book titled "Technical Vocational Education" on Friday. This ceremony was held at the British Council Auditorium. The Minister further said, I mean KBE demands that we have more skilled people. Therefore, we need to make our youth skilful enough to develop ideas, generate creative knowledge and generate new values and bases of wealth. Many other countries such as Singapore, Korea and Japan have recognized this need. Therefore, timely action was taken by them to enhance technical vocation education. In Singapore even the curricula in primary and secondary schools has been cut by third to emphasize process based rather than content based learning as a forerunner to a better technical vocational education. All these efforts would be necessary to ensure that more and more technopreneurs are created within our economy as well. Regaining Sri Lanka as documented in the proposed development strategy would be possible only through such a strategy. It is in this context that Professor Siriwardene's present publication on Technical Vocational Education has its relevance. We should also remember that it is not only the question of training and developing the youth as technopreneurs is at our hand. We also need to embark on Skills Redevelopment Programme, that is, for those who will be or will have to leave the existing jobs as the viability of their own organizations may be questionable such in the emerging economic context. "Let me also share with you one of my observations with regard to our university and technical education. If we survey the facilities available with our universities and technical institutions we cannot be said to be far behind from the reasonably developed countries. We have facilities, which are very competitive and up to date. We have well trained resource persons and academicians who compare well with others in the world. Yet one of the rather sad factors is that the application of the knowledge of the science is far behind. Despite our having taught various sciences in the universities and technical institutions for several decades, we have not been able to produce a base of technopreneurs. The outputs of such institutions have been primarily teachers. This reminds me of the often stated phrase "those who can, do-those who cannot, teach". What I am pointing out is that the knowledge imparted through our educational institutions have not, to a great extent, made our youth competent and confident enough to become entrepreneurs on their own. This shows a lacuna in our approach. In this context I believe our universities and also the technical institutions have to re-think their approach. Professor Siriwardene's present contribution, I believe, would greatly facilitate this endeavour." Dayantha Wijesekera, Vice Chancellor of University of Moratuwa, Earl Fernando, Consultant of ILO and Secretary General of Parliament Sam Wijesinghe also participated. |
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