The Ministry of Science, Technology, Research, Skills Development and Hill Country Heritage has taken a decision to double the intake of trainees to technical and vocational training institutions operating under various departments and institutions under the ministry. The decision was taken at a meeting presided by Minister Dr. SarathAmunugama last Wednesday. This was his first meeting with the officials of his new ministry. The Minister also requested the officials to upgrade the syllabuses to match international levels, according to a press release issued by the Ministry. He pointed out that a main reason for the existence of unemployment in the country, is the lack of technical and vocational competence among the youth. He stressed that in addition to the possession of O’ level or A’ level qualifications, a person must possess vocational qualifications to get employment in the modern, competitive, industrial world. The Minister said that if someone possesses internationally accepted technical or vocational qualifications he will get employment easily not only locally but abroad as well.However, today most youth do not have such qualifications fitting them out for a job anywhere. Therefore, it is imperative that the intake to technical and vocational training institutions under his Ministry be immediately doubled and the courses of training be upgraded to international standards simultaneously the Minister said.
Thus, youth will be enabled to get lucrative employment even abroad. The Minister directed that all this must be mandatory with the next intake of trainees scheduled for July this year.