The answer to costly overseas education:

Tertiary education opportunities now in Sri Lanka

by Professor Dayantha WIJEYESEKERA

Chancellor University of Vocational Technology and Chairman, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission

There are about 165,000 GCE 'O Level' students who are happy to gain admission to the GCE 'A Level' class. While there would be about two years' time 25,000 students from among them who will be happier to enter a conventional State University in Sri Lanka, resulting in about 140,000 students left in the lurch as it may be!

While congratulating those who succeeded the first hurdle at the GCE 'O Level' examination they have to be wished well for the second hurdle at the GCE 'A Level' examination and moreover be guided on other opportunities available before it is too late. Undoubtedly the youth would be the happiest once they are employed eventually as highly skilled personnel in various occupations or become well qualified professionals needed both for the local market and also the international market.

It is quite well-known that many parents and school authorities may not be aware of the opportunities available for Tertiary Education in Sri Lanka irrespective of the Z - Score achieved at the GCE A Level, and / or GCE O Level performances. Many parents, grandparents, guardians and youth are unaware of these opportunities and concentrate only on the 15 conventional universities in the country and get disappointed when their offspring fail to get admission to these universities.

Another purpose of this article is for those who aspire to overseas education or for those already in "greener pastures" to encourage and motivate those here in Sri Lanka on the opportunities, which are quite common in the countries they currently dwell. Of course, an indirect purpose would be for them and those in Sri Lanka not to over-react to offer and accept costly overseas tertiary education leading to financial hardships when such opportunities are available locally unless overseas education at undergraduate level is sought for some other valid reason.

Some post secondary school students who sought Sri Lanka University Education having sat for the G.C.E. Advanced Level examinations in August 2011 would be rejoicing having secured a Z score for their desired field of study and the university while some others would be quite disappointed at varying levels for not having secured the required Z score rating or having doubts on the results.

Also there may be some who have the required entry requirements, but nevertheless would wish to pursue other alternative avenues of Tertiary and Vocational Education. Furthermore, there may be those who did not even attempt the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination, since they prefer alternate routes of Tertiary Education as some of us did in following Technical Courses soon after G.C.E. O Level examination.

This message is not for a category of "drop outs" as I do not believe there is such a category, but to encourage and motivate the 96 pc (approx) of the age cohort who seek alternative routes for their career development through Tertiary Education of which university education through UGC at the Conventional Universities and their institutes is just one of the avenues in Sri Lanka, catering only to about 4 pc of the age cohort.

For those who seek "University" education in Sri Lanka, they should be reminded that within the UGC, there is the Open University of Sri Lanka and also in addition there are other Universities outside the UGC established under separate Acts of Parliament such as, the university of Vocational Technology, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, Buddhasravaka Bhikshu University and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.

In addition there are local degree awarding institutes recognised by the UGC and the Ministry of Higher Education. These are as listed below and their websites would give details of the programs of study being offered leading to recognised accredited degrees:-

(See A)

Diploma level programs of study are offered under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development and also under the Ministry of Higher Education. These are programs leading to national diplomas and higher national diplomas with career development pathways subsequently available to degree level.

Well recognised professional courses are also available through Member Associations of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA).

The Member Associations of the OPA which offer such courses are as listed below.

(See B)

Of course, there are also many private higher education institutes conducting relevant training programs through certificate, diploma and advanced diplomas etc of international qualification awarding bodies and degrees of overseas universities. The academic credibility and the registration of such non - degree level Tertiary Education institutes should be ascertained from the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). The details could be obtained by visiting its website www.tvec.gov.lk. Undoubtedly, obtaining such qualifications through programs of study while being partly of fully in Sri Lanka would be of a lesser financial burden than proceeding overseas, to obtain the same qualifications.

The trend in the development of tertiary education and vocational training the world over is the rapid progress and recognition of vocational education.

In some developed countries, fields such as law, medicine, IT and engineering are now categorised as vocations.

It has to be clearly understood by post secondary school leavers, their parents, teachers and school authorities, that while graduating to obtain a degree is prestigious there are many other avenues of obtaining professional, technological and vocational qualifications which can be equally or more prestigious rather than being an "unemployed graduate" with a degree or being a frustrated secondary school student repeatedly trying to secure a place in a conventional university.

There are currently about 800 Tertiary level educational institutes maintaining the TVEC registration, with TVEC accredited courses. The Tertiary and Vocational Education and Training opportunities through TVEC registered and accredited courses could be verified by visiting the TVEC website www.tvec.gov.lk through the link "Registration and Accreditation". Fields of study in the following areas

(See C)

Most of the courses of study are now aligned to the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF) which ranges from NVQ levels 1 to 7, where level 7 is at degree level for some selected fields at the University of Vocational Technology at Ratmalana.

The TVET GUIDE 2012 presents fields of study, available in the provinces of Sri Lanka in the various districts.

For human resource development and to be gainfully employed with career prospects for further academic advancement even upto degree level, these avenues should be explored and pursued rather than focusing only on the traditional routes some of which may be now outdated.

This is a comprehensive guide on the technical and vocational education and training opportunities available at the public sector and private sector accredited training institutions also a TVEC registered list of private and public training institutes. Students can find out what technical and vocational education and training sector provides for their future career. This Guide has three dexes which support easy access to fields of study, educational qualifications required and the institute names. The information could be searched on a provincial basis and the details could be obtained by visiting its website www.tvec.gov.lk and linking with the TVET GUIDE.