Sri Lanka

Location: Sri Lanka

Implementing Agencies:

Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka

Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka

National Institute of Technical Education of Sri Lanka

Proposed Starting Date: 15th of July 2006

Duration: Two Years

Government Input : US $ 11,880

Fund Inputs: US $ 31,000

Table of contents

1. SUMMARY
2. INTRODUCTION
3. NEEDS AND PROBLEMS
4. MAJOR GOALS
5. CONCRETE OBJECTIVES
6. EXPECTED OUTCOMES
7. TARGET POPULATION / BENEFICIARIES
8. RELATED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED IN JAPAN TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES
9. IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES

1. SUMMARY

The Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission was established in 1992 as the apex body in the technical and vocational education and training sector under the provisions of the Tertiary and Vocational Education Act No 20 of 1990. The major responsibilities of the TVEC are in the areas of policy formulation, planning, quality assurance, co-ordination and overall development of TEVT in the country.

The purpose of this proposal is to aware the trainees, trainers policy makers in the TEVT sector, provide barrier free technical and vocational education for persons with disabilities in and construct a model Vocational and Living Support Training Centre in Sri Lanka.

Through this programme, the users in the model Vocational and Living Support Training Centre will gain new knowledge and skills relating to their course. The users will also develop friendship with the society and they will be able to do their work independently. After obtaining the training through the vocational and living support center, the young PWD’s will be able to live independently. After one year period, this Vocational and Living Support Training Centre will be able to earn money by selling the goods to be produced by the production unit such as Wooden Shoe Racks, Aluminium Ladders, and Extension Wire Cord and Hose Reels for domestic use initially. This model training centre will be a good example in future for other training providers in government, private and NGO sectors.

The total anticipated budget is US $ 42,880. This program will provide more training opportunities for young PWD’s in the main stream of TEVT in Sri Lanka. The trainers, researchers and policy makers will be able to update their knowledge on current job market and new vocational training programmes. Hence they can think further on their proposed new projects.

At the end of two years the vocational training and technical education for young PWD’s will be improved qualitatively and quantitatively in accordance to future trends.

2. INTRODUCTION

The amendments introduced in December 1999 to the Tertiary and Vocational Education Act No. 20 of 1990 ensures that 10 out of 17 members of the TVEC including its Chairman, representatives from the Employer Associations and Private Sector entrepreneurs. This provides a forum at the highest level for the private sector to contribute towards developing policies and programmes that would help achieve the vision of the Government of maintaining a demand-driven training system.

The Chairman and the Director General of the Commission are assisted by a team of Directors, in charge of development functions and a Secretary who oversees the personnel, financial and administration functions.

Vision:

A Tertiary and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system where all seekers of training will have to access to highest possible standards of TEVT that assures gainful employment globally.

Mission:

As the apex body in the TVET sector, we are committed to establish and maintain an efficient and effective Tertiary Education and Vocational Training system, which is relevant to socio-economic goals and changing market needs

The general objectives of the commission:

Policy development, Planning, co-ordination and development of the tertiary education and vocational training at all levels in keeping with human resource needs of the economy.
Development of a nationally recognized system for granting of tertiary education commission
Maintenance of academic and training standards in institutes, agencies and all other establishments providing tertiary education and vocational training.

3. NEEDS AND PROBLEMS

The Department of Social Services is the state body responsible for providing vocational training to people who have disability. But the services provided by this department are very limited and the department has seven centers located in different districts. These centres are not equipped with modern technology. The courses offered are often not market driven resulting skills mismatch between training given and employment opportunities. The department is having difficulty recruiting new special instructors with knowledge of new technology. The PWD’s have no access to career guidance.

Majority of the technical and vocational training institutes in Sri Lanka does not have sufficient accessibility for the trainees with disabilities except centers under the Department of Social Services. There are 1000 training centers which are already registered island wide with the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission. 55,500 youth were recruited for vocational Training in public sector training organizations during year 2005. The largest organization providing vocational training is the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA) with having more than 20,000 recruiting annually.

Many individuals who have disability are trained in these training centers but very few information and data are available in these organizations. In terms of social development and rights of the people who have disability should have equal access to all these registered training centers in the mainstream of TEVT in Sri Lanka. If we can provide the accessibility for the training centers, the unemployed youth with disability can be grasped and we can provide skills development programmes for the above youth.

4. MAJOR GOALS

Improve the Quality of training in special vocational schools
Provide equal access to the PWD’s for the main stream vocational training institutions
Establish an Information cell on training of PWD’s
Introduce Vocational and Living Support Centres for PWD’s

5. CONCRETE OBJECTIVES

Construct a model Vocational and Living Support Centre for disable youth in Colombo within 2 years.
Allocate 5% quota from the financial assistance scheme in the TVEC to purchase training equipments for the special vocational training centres from year 2007.
Provide barrier- free accessibility to the ministry building.
Establish information cell at the TVEC on training of disable persons in Sri Lanka.
Do a survey on Disabled Trainees in 250 training centres in Sri Lanka.
Provide Teacher Training Programme for 20 instructors in government, Pvt and NGO sectors.
Give priority (5%) allocation for disabled trainees when recruit trainees for ordinary vocational training centres.
Introduce National Vocational Qualification System (NVQ) for 5 Special Vocational Centres.
Recruit at least 1 disabled person as a permanent employee to the TVEC in year 2007.
Giving guidance to the PWD’s
Evaluate 5 career guidance units regarding the accessibility and give guidance for officers on training and job supporting services for PWD’s.
Send TVEC publications to all Special Vocational Training Centres in Sri Lanka.
Study, evaluate and give guidance to update 5 curricula used currently in the Special Vocational centres which are under the department of social services.

6. EXPECTED OUTCOMES

PWD’s can obtain employments in the open labour market

PWD’s will be able to do self employments independently
Aware the trainees, trainers and policy makers in the TEVT sector on PWD’s
Vocational and Living Support Centres will be a income source for the training agency
This model training centre will be a good example in future for other training providers in government, private and NGO sectors.
Provides more training opportunities for young PWD’s in the main stream of TEVT.
The trainers, researchers and policy makers in Ministry of Social Welfare will be able to update their knowledge on current job market and new vocational training programmes.
They can think further on their proposed new projects.
At the end of two years the vocational training and technical education for young PWD’s will be improved qualitatively and quantitatively in accordance to future trends.
Provide barrier free technical and vocational education for persons with disabilities

7. TARGET POPULATION / BENEFICIARIES

Un-employed PWD’s (visual, speech, hearing, mobility, intellectual and psychiatric and disability arising as a result of epilepsy and other causes.)
Trainees and Trainers in the Special vocational Schools
Employers who seek people with special skills
Parents of PWD’s
Ministry of Social Welfare

8. RELATED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED IN JAPAN TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVES

I could get a chance to study the Japanese vocational rehabilitation system and work centres /sheltered workshop management (National Rehabilitation / Vocational Rehabilitation Centre for PWD’s)
I improved my facilitation skills through the participatory workshops (Workshop on Facilitator Skills, Project Proposal Writing and Project Cycle Management)
I could exchange information with professionals related in the disability field in Japan.(Professor Maruyama, Professor Ogawa, Mr.Nonaka, and Program Coordinators)
I learned much about visually impaired persons at WITH in Hamamatsu city.