Technical education, a must for development - Mohan Lal Grero

It is only by developing technical education that the country could be transformed into a developed country. There is a world of difference between a person with a traditional degree and one with a degree relating to the technical field.

The latter would be a more active and practical person than the former, said the Ministry's monitoring MP, Mohan Lal Grero.

He was addressing a meeting after opening a new Vocational Training Centre of the Sri Lanka Vocational Training Authority in Ampara recently. The new Training centre cost over Rs. 50 million.

The minister said a mere three percent of the student population qualify to enter universities. The responsibility of catering to the future well being of the balance is cast in the Youth Affairs and Skills Development Ministry.

He said the Technical and Vocational Training sector in the country has a 100 year old history.

The Technical Education sector received a new lease of life after 1994.

Grero said Ampara had a long history as far as technical education is concerned mainly due the Hardy Technical College which was earlier known as the Hardy university.

Grero said certain technical fields lacked trained personnel.

This was a major shortcoming for the development of the country. As a solution to thi, plans have been formulated to introduce technical education to the school education sector. Grero siad background had been created for a person to reach the degree level through technical education.

There were opportunities for persons outside the traditional education sector to obtain a degree in technology from the Vocational Technology university at Ratmalana.