Vocational training for school-leavers, dropouts

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana highlighted the importance of providing vocational training for school leavers and school dropouts.

He told the Sunday Observer that only a small percentage of schoolchildren in the country seek university admission every year and a section of children who have the basic qualifications, but are unable to enter universities are engaged in various other professional studies in Sri Lanka and abroad.

"This situation prompted me to initiate a long-term program to help school dropouts and school leavers who have educational qualifications, but do not follow even vocational courses due to financial problems," the Minister said.

He said the courses would be carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Vocational Training and the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, since qualified students could find employment even in foreign countries after completing their training.

Minister Gunawardana said school dropouts and school leavers with various skills and talents should not be ignored and it is the duty of authorities to help them to follow important courses such as tourism, motor mechanism, welding, electricity, heavy vehicle driving and carpentry.

"School leavers must also be given excellent training on subjects such as English and Information Technology, since a large number of jobs related to Information Technology are available here and abroad," he said.