Education sector needs to be geared
Producing employable youth:
Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The education sector needs to be geared to cater to changing needs of
the job market and should be capable of producing employable youth.
|
Kamal Abeysinghe |
“It is significant that our young people been directed towards green
collar jobs as it will enable maintaining a green environment. It is
important to introduce change in the form of education and skills
provided to face the changing demand in labour,” EDEX Project Chairman
Kamal Abeysinghe told Daily News Business.
“We promote the “Think Green’ campaign and this would lead to
sustainable development ensuring the preservation of the environment.
However, we have to look at the current development thrust pronounced by
the Government and support it’s efforts, he said.
“The Government has set a goal to double the per capita income by
2015. This could only be achieved through the development of
manufacturing, agriculture, service and industrial sectors and mostly
from upgrading knowledge based industries. It is necessary to have a
comprehensive action plan to develop our human resource pool,” he said.
There has to be a concerted effort to modernize the education system
at all levels. The needs of the businesses and industries are not met
with the capabilities of the products of the current education system
and this needs to be addressed, he said.
A skills gap could be seen between the young students who come out
from the system and the expectation of the potential employers in
diverse sectors. It is essential to introduce early reforms for
technical and vocational skills development parallel to secondary
education within the system. It will provide foundation knowledge in
identified disciplines for students.
The expertise and views of the industry practitioners should be
seriously taken in to consideration in identifying such course moduls so
that they become an inclusive part ensuring quality and relevance. The
courses offered by the universities should be aligned with the
development of industries.
“The country can achieve better productivity by developing its human
resources and making youth who complete secondary education industry
ready. We have to meet the global demand and promote export oriented
industries and services. Therefore product standards have to be
continuously upgraded and updated to keep abreast with global changes on
an ongoing basis,” Abeysinghe said. |
