Korean funded Vocational Training Centres ready in December

The Colombo Vocational Training Centre (VTC) an upgrade of the Gampaha Technical College ( TC) project financed by the Korea Eximbank, is nearing completion in December this year, said the Korean embassy.

Skills Development & Vocational Training Minister Dr Sarath Amunugama, along with the Colombo VTC Project Director was on a site inspection tour in Orugodawatta early this week.

Korea Eximbank is financing this project for US$ 26 million at 0.15% interest, with a 40- year repayment period, including 10- year grace period.

"The Colombo VTC, once operational, will conduct National Vocational Qualification ( NVQ) Courses on subjects such as Robotics, Electrics & Electronics, M e c h a t r o n i c s , We l d i n g , Au t o m o t i v e Te c h n o l o g y, Refrigeration Air- conditioning, Pneumatics & Hydraulics," the Embassy said.

Text books for these subjects are being developed by experts from Korean universities. In addition, capacity building programmes for management staff and teachers, covering all the above subject areas in these two institutes, are being con- ducted in Korea. Workshop equipment will also be supplied and installed at these 2 institutions, within this year as well.

"At a point where Sri Lanka is marching towards upper- middle income country status, this project will certainly boost the supply of better jobs for the youth, by creating a skilled labour force which is vital to driving the economic growth," the Embassy added.