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| Saturday, 3 July 2004 |
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The need for a fresh outlook for skill development in the construction industry by Prof. Lakshman Alwis, Chairman, Institute for Construction, Training and Development
Construction also contributes to high value addition, through its forward and backward linkages effecting high multiple effects in stimulating other sectors of the economy. Employment creation through construction is very significant. Construction sector provides direct employment to about 350,000 to 400,000 and indirect employment may be twice that number. It is a well known fact that the construction sector demonstrates the state of the economy of a country. Construction is a mechanism that can be used by the Government to reduce unemployment amongst youth in particular and as a means of poverty reduction in the country in general. The Institute for Construction Training and Development (ICTAD) is the successor to the Sri Lanka Construction Industry Training Project established in 1981, in order to provide a unified modular training system for construction related trades, which will supply the industry with a significant number of workers, trained to limited but employable skill levels in the shortest possible time. The training system was also required to improve the use and maintenance of plant and machinery by training of operators, mechanics and other personnel. In addition, it was required to look at the needs to increase the effectiveness of work planning and supervision by training middle and upper management personnel in contract procedures, supplies management, quality control etc. It also made several recommendations on policies and procedures for the Construction Industry. ICTAD was established in April 1986 and made a Statutory Authority in June 1992. The main areas of ICTAD's activities are: (1) The recommendations of strategies for the development of the Construction Industry and assist in its implementation. (2) The regulations of registration and grading of construction contractors. (3) The promotion of professionalism of Consultants in the Construction industry and the Co-ordination of the activities of professional bodies in the Construction Industry and assistance in the formation of other bodies in the industry. (4) The promotion of, and grant of assistance to the export of consultancy services in the Construction Industry and the undertaking of construction work and services overseas by local contractors. (5) The provision of Advisory Services with respect of Construction Industry. (6) The reviving of human resources requirement of the Construction Industry and assisting in the provision of training facilities to meet the requirements. (7) The promotion of the advancement of the skills and expertise of persons and bodies engaged in Construction Industry. (8) The promotion or undertaking of research into any matter relating to the Construction Industry. (9) The promotion and granting assistance for the development of industries related to the Construction Industry. (10) The undertaking or assisting any other activity for promotion of the Construction Industry. The main objectives of ICTAD are: * To improve training capacities of vocational training institutions and facilitate the qualitative improvement of vocational training programmes to meet the needs of semi-skilled, skilled and managerial personnel in the Construction Industry; * To improve the quality and efficiency of the Construction Industry by encouraging innovative approaches in technology and industrial development activities and in achieving economy in construction works. ICTAD has three functional divisions, in its organisational structure viz: * Training * Construction industry development, and * Resource management |
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Produced by Lake House |
The construction industry contributes seven to eight percent of the
sectoral composition of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The value
addition as a result of the manufacture of building materials exclusively
for construction, is presently accounted under manufacturing sector in the
GDP.
