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| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
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Unified education system with private sector participation The government will introduce a unified technical and professional education system with private sector participation, Minister of Skills Development and Vocational and Technical Education Piyasena Gamage said. "The unified system will enhance technical and vocational education in the country," Minister Gamage told the opening ceremony of the EDEX 2005 international education fair at the BMICH organised by the Royal College Union. He said that the main objective of introducing a unified system was to widen the scope in technical and vocational education of a professional level. The new unified system will be skill based, practical and go up to degree level periodically after going through seven certificate levels for vocational and technical students, the Minister said. He said that when the system is in place it will improve the quality of vocational and technical education in the country to international level . Minister of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Athauda Seneviratne, a special guest said that the need of the hour is to improve vocational and technical education to face the rapidly changing world. He said that the world has shrunk into a village as a result of globalisation and education would be the solution to face future challenges. In the present context the country should invest in people to improve their intellect to provide jobs for them, the Minister said. He said that school-leavers, undergraduates and graduates should be provided appropriate technical skills along with IT knowledge to face this changing world. "Today, most of the youth are a mismatch for certain jobs due to the lack of skills and knowledge," he said. He said that we have to change the mindset of people on certain jobs, which are considered socially unacceptable especially garment jobs. He said that at present there are more than 15,000 vacancies in free trade zones as a result. Improving vocational and technical education to an international level would pave the way for everybody to find suitable employment in any part of the world, the Minister said. Principal, Royal College Upali Gunasekera said that EDEX 2005 will provide a window of opportunities for school-leavers and under-graduates to select an appropriate career path. The exhibition endorsed by the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational and Technical Education will feature 40 stalls with country pavilions from India, Singapore and Malaysia and direct representation from the UK, USA, Australia and Russia. |
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