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| Sunday, 1 June 2003 |
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Directing unemployed graduates towards entrepreneurial culture If education is to be of any use to society, its purpose and methodology should change according to the needs of the times. It should not stagnate, but flow on like a river. Especially in the case of university education, the authorities should display more creativity to bring about the necessary reforms, Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs told the preliminary sessions of the 'Ceylinco Graduate Entrepreneur Development Programme. The programme was jointly arranged by the Ministry of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and the Universities of Colombo, Kelaniya, Sri Jayawardhanepura and Wayamba, under the sponsorship of Lalith Kotelawela, Chairman North Western and Central Regional Economic Development Commission and the Ceylinco Group of Companies. Under this programme, arrangements will be made for a student who has graduated to either singularly or jointly commence entrepreneurial activity while financial facilities required to commence business together with other services will be supplied by the Ceylonco Group. The Group has already made arrangements for some graduates in the North Western region to benefit under this scheme. The Minister also said that providing jobs to all unemployed graduates cannot be single handedly dealt with by the government due to non-availability of job opportunities in the government sector. Also, those who apply for jobs do not possess adequate training and know-how to secure positions available in the market. This problem is mainly connected with the knowledge of English and computer literacy. "Universities should restructure their curriculum to suit job demands. Accordingly, it is appropriate to draw up a programme to direct the undergraduates for training in the private sector, including practical sessions in the final year syllabus, directing them for employment in the private sector during day time, and cover-up lectures arranged in the evenings and weekends. Although the private sector had been reluctant to recruit graduates, this notion is now passing off", he said. Kotelawela said he was concerned about the 80 per cent undergraduates coming from rural areas. The motive behind this project, according to him, is to send back the graduates to their own villages. Under the Grooha kada project, capital will be provided while the boutique, goods and the land will also be included in the calculations as a package. By this the person will gain knowledge and interest in carrying out a business. The loans taken will be spread over 10 to 15 years. |
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