Opportunities in (TVET) System in Sri Lanka
The overall objective of the national TVET strategy is to create a
competent, motivated, adaptable and innovative workforce that plays
pivotal roles in the poverty reduction and socio-economic development
efforts of the country. This is achieved through facilitating
demand-driven, employment oriented, relevant and outcome based TVET at
all levels.
TVET for Whom?
Those who completed General Education at any level after 8th grade
could join TVET system and make progressive growth upto degree level
with National Vocational Qualification (NVQ).
What is NVQ?
Previously certificates and diplomas those offered by the Public and
Private vocational training institutions do not refer to a level of a
qualification framework. As such, youths are in puzzle of selecting a
quality programme to prosper their future as a carrier path. Similarly,
at the recruitment, the employers are also in difficult stage to
consider which certificate to accept and complying with Industry
requirements.
Therefore Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development (MYASD)
and Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) has taken steps
to introduce a National Vocational Qualification System (NVQ) consisted
with 7 Levels in collaboration with all Government Technical Education
and Vocational Training Institutes in year 2004. Many developed and
developing countries have introduced vocational skill certification
systems similar to that of the NVQ system. Therefore, National
Vocational Qualification System could be considered as nationally and
internationally recognized vocational certification system, which is a
unified one.
Above picture shows NVQ Levels with job role description at each
level divided in to different levels of courses such as certificate,
diploma and degree.
How to find a training programme?
You may visit to Career Guidance and Counseling (CGC) centers
established under public sector training institutions for career advise
or www.tvec.gov.lk web site for online TVET Guide.
TVEC publishes TVET guide every year containing all public sector
TVET courses which shown below.
What kind of courses available?
TVET courses in 23 industry sectors are published in the TVET Guide.
These sectors are;
* Information Communication and Multimedia Technology
* Building and Construction
* Automobile Repair and Maintenance
* Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication
* Textile and Garments
* Finance Banking and Management
* Metal and Light Engineering
* Languages
* Personal and Community Development
* Hotel and Tourism
* Teacher Training
* Human Resources Management
* Wood Related
* Office Management
* Art Design and Media (Visual & Performing)
* Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
* Aviation, Aeronautics, Marine and Navigation
* Food Technology
* Medical and Health Science
* Printing and Packaging
* Agriculture Plantation and Livestock
* Gem and Jewellery
* Leather and Footwear
What is the industry acceptance of NVQ Holders?
The selection of occupation for development of courses is based on
labour market information which shows local and foreign demand. The
development of teaching and learning resources in TVET system is based
on the standard in each occupation or sector developed in collaboration
with industry and training experts. Therefore acceptability of NVQ
holders by the industry is very high.
TVEC operates a labour market information system and disseminate
information to its stakeholders through its bi-annual publication of the
Labor Market Information(LMI) Bulletin and through its website. The LMI
system makes use of newspaper survey reports, labour force survey
reports, SLBFE reports, BOI reports etc. in its analysis and forecast.
How to maintain the quality of TVET courses?
TVEC deploys 3 levels of quality assurance methods to maintain the
quality of delivery of training programmes. Those are:
* Registration of Training Centers
* Accreditation of Training Courses
*Establishment of Quality Management System (QMS) in training centers
in accordance with ISO standards
More information on LMI, NVQ standards, Registration and
Accreditation could be obtained from TVEC web site.
What are the Institutes?
There are various institutes conduct TVET courses in public private
and NGO sector.
There are 14 training delivery institutes and 382 vocational training
centers under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development. Online
database of registered institutes and centers could be obtained from
TVEC web site (www.tvec.gov.lk)
(Prepared by Janaka Jayalath - TVEC) |