Legislation of the Tertiary Education and Vocational Training Sector

Professor Dayantha WIJESEKERA, Chairman Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission

Tertiary Education and Vocational Training play an important role as a very useful and relevant alternative avenue for Post Secondary Education specially for those who have completed their GCE 'O-level' education.

Vocational training

This avenue is directed by the provisions in the TVE Act No 20 of 1990 with subsequent amendments by the Act No. 50 of 1999.

The Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma along with the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) has decided to propose certain amendments to the Act to make it more effective and relevant.

In view of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) framework and the University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), both of which were established since the principal Act was enacted, the provisions of the Act has to be reviewed and strengthened.

Currently, the general objects of the Act shall be for the planning, coordination and development of tertiary education and vocational training at all levels keeping with the human resource needs of the economy, the development of nationally recognized systems for granting of tertiary education awards and for the maintenance of academic and training standards in institutes, agencies and all other establishments providing tertiary education and vocational training.

At present there are 820 such institutes registered with the TVEC which has 1,048 accredited courses.

There are wide deliberations with many stakeholders taking place both from the public and private sector to ascertain the amendments necessary. For this purpose comments are invited from the general public as well.

To facilitate same, the proposed amendments along with the principal enactment are available on the website www.tvec.gov.lk. As such comments are invited from all those interested in the sector before the end of this month, either by email: [email protected] or by post to chairman, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission, ‘Nipunatha Piyasa’, No 354/2 Elvitigala Mawatha, Colombo 5. Such comments would be given due consideration by the Commission of the TVEC.