Vocational and technical training a fillip to development

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Vocational and Technical Training Minister Piyasena Gamage briefed the Daily News on the developments in the vocational and technical training sector, especially in view of the rehabilitation process taking place following the end of the war against terrorism.

He said the vocational and technical training sector plays a key role in developing the country. A sound vocational and technical training background is imperative in the development drive, he said.

Q: As the Vocational and Technical Training Minister you have a great responsibility. Could you explain your future plans?

A: My responsibility is to produce trained labour for fruitful employment opportunities in the industrial sector. But first we have to understand what the special needs are. There is enormous talent and potential which requires proper attention. After identifying these talents we need give a good training. We have various institutions to train young people and we have a variety of courses.

The Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, National Institute of Technical Education of Sri Lanka, National Institute of Business Management, National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority, Department of Technical Education and Training, Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka, Human Resource Development Council and Skills Development Project are some of our main institutions. We also have many Vocational Training Centers and Technical Colleges all over the country.

Q:What do you think about the current education system of the country?

A: In my opinion, we have a good education system. But we don’t have adequate facilities to provide higher education for all. It is very pathetic that some students do not get admission to university though they obtain distinction passes for all three subjects in the Advanced Level Examination.

But they are talented students. So we should widen our university facilities to increase the number of entries. We have to establish more universities. As the first step we established the first Technical Training University of Sri Lanka in Ratmalana.

Q: Could you explain about the foreign aid received for technical education?

A: It is a known fact that so many Sri Lankan students study in the USA, UK, Russia, China and India. They have to pay a lot to study abroad. If our country had adequate facilities for higher studies we can save that money.

Our Ministry together with the NIBM started a new degree program to offer foreign degrees here. As a result of the agreement with the Dublin University in Ireland, we provide an opportunity for our students to sit the examinations held by the Dublin Universities by following distance education. We also have some other foreign funded projects.

Q:What are the plans to develop the vocational training in the Northern and Eastern part of the country?

A: Already we have started several projects under the Uthuru Wasanthaya and Nagenahira Nawodaya programmes to uplift the facilities in the vocational and technical training sector in these provinces. Recently, we opened technical colleges in Samanthurei and Akkaraipattu. We will also establish new technical training centres in IDP villages.

We have started some courses in Manik Farm, like dress making courses, carpentry, plumber training, motor mechanism and IT courses. Specially girls like to follow dress making courses. Sometimes it is very difficult to meet the demand to provide facilities to them to follow these courses.

Now we have to pay attention to the construction sector in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Prior to that, we hope to train carpenters, plumbers and other artisans in those areas.

Because of that, we hope to provide a chance to follow vocational and technical training courses for those in IDP villages irrespective of their age and educational qualifications.

The main purpose of this program is to provide them aptitude training and overcome negative attitudes. We hope to open the Jaffna Higher Technical College and in the near future. Plans are afoot to establish new NIBM institutions in Jaffna.