Praise for Lanka's higher education sector

Indunil HEWAGE

Sri Lanka has managed to record a high return rate in higher education sector investments programmes compared to other Asian countries.

France JC Eicher Association of Economics of Education President and World Bank Capacity Building Consultant Benolt Millot said Sri Lanka's higher education sector is on the right path with many successful investments and it is capable of producing high returns for employees with university degrees.

"We are optimistic that the higher education sector in Sri Lanka will be able to manage producing individuals with more entrepreneur and innovative skills," he said.

It is the responsibility of policy makers to understand the interrelation between higher education and labour market requirements.

Measures should also be taken by policy makers in education sector to implement required provisions to match labour market requirements while adopting a successful national manpower planning," he said.

"We will be able to see a healthy growth in the Sri Lankan higher education sector in the years to come owing to demographic transitions and high economic growth prospectus. The higher education sector needs to address technical requirements, basic writing abilities, English, interpersonal skills while creating individuals who have the ability to work long hours coupled with work discipline," Millot said.