Context: Since 2012, Sri Lanka’s economy has grown an average of 6 per cent annually. Although tourism, manufacturing and construction are driving this growth, the Sri Lankan Government has struggled to produce the labour force required to fully capitalize on the economic success of these sectors. An underdeveloped labour force has also prevented Sri Lanka from exploiting the demand for workers in the tourism, construction and automotive repair industries. Instead, Sri Lankans travel to the Middle East, where migrants earn eight times more than the salaries offered locally in the same industries. To build a workforce capable of meeting this domestic and foreign labour demand, the Sri Lankan Government must remove the economic and social barriers to education and vocational training for middle- and low-income families.
Implementation of initiative/programme: The Sri Lankan Government is taking steps to provide free post-secondary education and vocational training, particularly for the country’s youth. For example, all vocational schools administered by the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training (MSDVT) have offered free attendance since early 2017. On-the-job training, soft skills development, employment services and low-interest bank loans are also available to Sri Lankan residents, free of charge, through MSDVT.
In addition, the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), which functions within the MSDVT to accredit and monitor vocational schools, launched the Skills Sector Development Program (SSDP) in 2014. In coordination with such partners as the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, TVEC implements quality control standards for vocational schools as part of the SSDP. Institutions that provide free vocational training include: the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka, the National Youth Services Council, the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority, the Department of Technical Education and Training, the University of Vocational Technology, the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and the Youth Corp.
Main Challenges: Following the announcement and implementation of free vocational training, MSDVT institutions experienced a surge in enrolment rates for which they were not prepared. Many vocational schools lack the organizational structure, resources and staff capacity to accommodate the influx of students, while also meeting the educational standards set by the SSDP. Institutions also face challenges in finding and training sufficient numbers of instructors that can deliver high quality instruction to the rapidly expanding student body.
Results: Annually, roughly 70,000 students enroll in public- and private-sector vocational schools, with students from rural, low-income families representing the largest cohort. Looking at positive outcomes, over 15,000 students have found employment following graduation, which includes self-employed income generating activities supported by government subsidies.
Moving Forward: To accommodate and sustain rising student enrolment while advancing standards of educational quality, the Sri Lankan Government should increase funding to improve the infrastructure of vocational institutions, such as laboratories and training centres. As many trades become increasingly reliant on technology for production, students must progressively learn to operate advanced machinery and equipment. In turn, vocational schools should establish training requirements and programmes for instructors that ensure they possess sufficient knowledge to teach students advanced technical skills.
Replicability: To assess the economic feasibility of this initiative, the Sri Lankan Government should institute a monitoring and evaluation system to measure the impact and efficiency of expenditure on the MSDVT initiative to provide free vocational training. In doing so, it will be ascertained whether this programme is replicable and refine the MSDVT initiative accordingly.
References:
Heritage Foundation. “Sri Lanka.” 2017 Index of Economic Freedom. Accessed 2
December 2017.
Hullugalle, Sriyani, Lasagabaster, Esperanza, Maimbo, Samuel, 2005, “Sri Lanka’s
Migrant Labor Remittances,” Policy Research Working Paper 3789, World Bank,
Washington, DC.
Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training. “SSDP.” Accessed 3 December
2017.
News.lk. 2017. “Current government ensured free vocational education – President.”
Accessed 2 December 2017.
Acknowledgments:
This good practice was kindly edited by Ms. Elizabeth Linklater
Project Details
Date: June 1, 2018