State, Private sector to support MoE '13 years of Certified Education'

A number of State and Private sector organisations have come forward to support the Ministry of Education ( MoE) ' 13 years of Certified Education' plan in introducing 26 Vocational subjects for students who have failed the GCE Ordinary Level ( O/ L) and Advanced Level (A/L) exams.

Representat ives of the National Institute of Education ( NIE), Sri Lanka Telecom, MAGA Engineering, Coconut Development Board, Nawaloka Hospital, Agriculture Dept, Sri Lanka- German Technology Institute, Ceylon Electricity Board, National Youth Council, E s o f t M e t r o Campus, Associated Motorways Pvt Ltd ( AMW), National School of Business Management (NSBM), National Institute of Business Management ( NIBM), Tower Hall Foundation, National Crafts Council, Sri Lanka Institute of Textile & Apparel, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research & Training Institute, Independent Te l evision Network and a number of other organisations willing to support this programme were present at a recent meeting held at the MoE.

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam thanked the State and Private sector organisations for their support, stating, this programme was introduced to encourage students who fail State exams.

“Instead of these students becoming school dropouts, Vocational Training accepted by the Private and State sectors, will be given to the students, to face the job market. We intend working with State and Private sector organisations to strengthen this programme,” he said.

The MoE said that, under Stage 1, 2,400 students in 42 schools have commenced Vocational studies, while Stage 2 will commence before end of May. Stage 2 will ensure that 14,000 students from 150 more schools will complete their studies under the Vocational subject stream.

The Minister said that, by the end of this year, the MoE intends to have this programme started in 192 schools. The MoE is also recruiting professionals qualified in the above fields, as teachers, with 2,100 teachers being trained by the NIE.

Minister Kariyawasam said Rs 3,600 million has been allocated from the annual Budget for this programme, for classroom facilities in schools, as well as teachers for certain Vocational subjects.

The 26 Vocational Courses introduced under this programme are: Child Psychology, Health & Social Security, Sports & Physical Education, Performing Arts, Operations Management, Crafts, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Art & Design, Landscaping, Botanical Science, Livestock Production and Technology, Food Production and Technology, Aquatic Technology, Plantation Science and Production Technology, Web Development, Software Development, Tourism & Hospitality Management, Environmental Science, Construction Technology Study, Motor Mechanics, Electricity and Electronics Technology, Clothing Technology, Metal Processing Technologies, Aluminum Processing Technology.

Students of any of the above courses will undergo comprehensive training with the relevant modern technologies.