Regular vocational training programs for youth through foreign aid

April 19, 2024

Development - Provincial

Regular vocational training programs for youth through foreign aid

October 07, 2015

The Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training had planned to commence regular vocational training programs for youth. A cabinet paper would be submitted soon to recruit the National Vocational Training Qualification (NVQ) holders to local and foreign employment soon after their training period, Skills Development and Vocational Training State Minister Palitha Range Bandara said.

The World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), along with countries of the European Union (EU) had provided USD 351 million for vocational education and training in Sri Lanka. According to the minister, the funds had been allocated for four years from 2014 to 2018.

The Minister stressed that he was ready to take the responsibility of creating qualified young employees needed by the developed world.

Minister Bandara also noted that though 47 per cent of youth who left school opted to obtain vocational training under the Vocational Training Authority (VTA) the rest found jobs directly without obtaining a proper training.

Therefore, to enhance the value of the workers entering the job market, the Ministry would launch a special awareness programme for students and parents about the importance of obtaining a valid professional qualification, he added.