Training works: nearly 20,400 vocational training graduates find skills-based work

Strategic Government and Non-government Alliance Succeeds In Training 30,000 Marginalized Women and Youth for the Lucrative Local Job Market

In 1989 the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, with other key players in national vocational training in Sri Lanka, embarked on a national vocational training and skill enhancing project. The Project for Rehabilitation through Education and Training (PRET) will complete its fifth phase in March 2014. Over 30,000 youth and women have been trained, two thirds of whom have found skills-appropriate employment or are selfemployed. A third of those trained are also women. WUSC will host a Conference on 25 November 2013 at the Taj Samudra Hotel to showcase its Achievements and Lessons Learned. The Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma will be the Chief Guest on this occasion. The Canadian High Commissioner, Ms. Shelley Whiting and the Executive Director, WUSC, Mr. Chris Eaton, will also attend.

The Project for Rehab i l i t ation through Education and Training ( PRET) began with a clear objective to provide nationally accredited vocational skills training to especially marginalized youth and women within the age group 17 - 29, both pre and post conflict. To date, the Project has grown to serve people in 13 districts across the country, including Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar and Anuradhapura in the North, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in the East and Badulla, Moneragala, Hambantota and Matara in the South. The first four phases of PRET provided vocational training to 30,000 people.

The fifth and final phase began in 2009 and will end in March 2014. This phase concentrated on building national sustainability for vocational training in Sri Lanka and strengthening the local leadership and institutional capacity. Against this backdrop, WUSC will host a Conference on 25 November 2013 at the Taj Samudra Hotel, showcasing the Project’s Achievements. “We have made great strides in our project theme areas of gender equality in vocational training and livelihood skills development, and in linking vocational training with the labour market economy in the country,” Mr. Richard Bonokoski, Country Director of WUSC said. The Project is also credited with connecting training and institutions with the corporate sector, in empowering youth by providing relevant vocational training skills, in working with partner organizations to establish quality in vocational training and in marketing vocational training within the civil society.

“The fifth and final phase of the Project especially focuses on supporting the Government of Sri Lanka in implementing its National Framework and the recognition of National Vocational Qualifications ( NVQ),” Mr. Bonokoski said. “We have learned through this Project the need to work closely and coordinate with communities and families to promote gender equality and women’s needs to pursue non-traditional occupations; the relationship between small and medium enterprises and the corporate sector is essential to make skills development programmes and employment of youth relevant.” He said that it is not important to merely provide youth with livelihood skills like welding, electronics, beauty culture etc., but it is also critical to provide them with complementary ‘ soft skills’ such as communications and ‘life skills’ such as money management. “In addition, building healthy attitudes towards team work and maintaining standards and quality control of the vocational training sphere through national accreditation and certification bodies is imperative,” he pointed out. These and other Lessons Learned from the Project over the last 25 years will be highlighted at the Conference in depth. The delegates at the Conference will include key stakeholders from relevant government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector participants, partner agencies and donors.

Along with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development, WUSC also works with the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA), the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) of Sri Lanka, the national vocational training accreditation agency the Tertiary Vocational and Educational Commission (TVEC) and the University of Vocational Technolo g y (UNIVOTEC). PRET is supported by various UN and non-government agencies, the private sector and civil society organizations and the international donor community, including the Government of Canada and the Government of Norway. The Project has received program funding from UNICEF and other international organizations.

WUSC – World University Service of Canada – is a leading Canadian non-profit organization in international development, committed to building a more equitable and sustainable world. Its head office is located in Ottawa, Canada, with field offices in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Sri Lanka, WUSC has been working with the Government of Sri Lanka and other local partners in the areas of Vocational Training, Prevention of Violence Against Women, and with Plantation Communities.

If you would like more information on this event please contact Richard Bonokoski, Country Director of WUSC – Sri Lanka, on the above contact information.