Great demand for technically trained manpower

There will be a great demand for technically trained manpower when massive development projects are launched after the conclusion of humanitarian operations in the North.

The Vocational and Technical Training Ministry has launched a program to meet this demand, said Minister Piyasena Gamage.

He was addressing the gathering at a ceremony held at the Aruppola Technical College in Kandy to mark its upgrading as a College of Technology in the Central Province.

Gamage said only three per cent of the students who sat the GCE Advanced Level Examination gained admission to universities.

The responsibility of providing technical education to the balance is vested in his Ministry. At present 75,000 students were following technical courses conducted by Institutions under his Ministry purview.

They hoped to increase this to 100,000 next year. Private sector assistance to find employment to those passing out from these institutions would be most welcome, as it would help reduce unemployment.

Gamage said only level 4 National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certificates were issued by Technical Colleges, VTAs and the Department of Technical Education and Training. Colleges of Technology set up at Provincial level would issues level 5 and 6 NVQ certificates.

The University of Vocational Technology which has already started functioning unofficially with Prof. Kapila Gunasekera, as the Vice Chancellor would issue level 7 NVQ, certificates which was a highly acclaimed professional qualification.

Prof. Kapila Guansekera and several others also spoke.