Sri Lanka will integrate technical training into school curricula, modernise training facilities and expand multi-track pathways, under an overhaul of the vocational education sector announced by the Ministry of Vocational Education.
The move follows the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) issuing close to one million National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certificates over two decades.
“Moving forward, we believe that every child should hold either a higher certificate in traditional education or an NVQ certificate in vocational education in their hand,” State Minister of Vocational Education Nalin Hewage told reporters at a media briefing on Monday, adding that technical qualifications must carry equal weight alongside traditional academic degrees.
Classroom pathways
Under the proposed reforms, technical orientation will be introduced for Grade 10 and 11 students, and vocational education is to become a fully recognised Advanced Level subject stream by 2031.
Samanthi Senanayake, Additional Secretary at the Vocational Training Ministry, said the aim was to map career pathways for school leavers. “Through such integration, by the time school children complete their 13 years of school education, they will acquire the capability to either earn an NVQ certificate or enter the university system,” she said.
Funding and institutional changes
The government has allocated annual capital expenditure of around Rs 8 billion and resumed large-scale recruitment after a seven-year freeze. Training centres are being fitted with modern machinery ahead of an islandwide awareness campaign scheduled for December.
A centralised intake system modelled on university admissions is being introduced across state vocational institutes, alongside 50 Centres of Excellence and Vocational Guidance Officers stationed in every Divisional Secretariat division.
The ‘Nipunatha Sisu Saviya’ monthly scholarship allowance will rise to Rs 10,000 next year from the current Rs 2,500. More than Rs 350 million has also been set aside for concessionary ‘SEPI Loans’ to help NVQ-certified youth start businesses.
