Minutes of the Technical and Vocational Education

1st Meeting of 2018.01.26

National Education Commission
Venue -: Board Room of the National Education Commission

Date -: 2018.02.27

Time -: 2.30 p.m.

presents -: Prof. W I Siriweera

Dr. G B Gunawardana

Dr. T A Piyasiri ( Chairman of the SCTVE)

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

Dr. B D Nandadeva

Dr. N Wikramasinghe

Dr. Hilary Silva

Dr. D D DSuraweera

Mr. Shayaman Udayanga

Mr. S P K Amarasinghe

Mr. N T K Lokuliyana

Mr. Mr. L B Rajakaruna

Mr. Mr. Sunil Liyanarachchi

Mr. Poorna Bandara

Mr. Kamalnath Jinadasa

Mrs. K M D S D Karunaratna

Mr. K A P Seneviratna

Mr. D D C Kalubowila

Mr. N P J Hewage

Excused -: Prof. K Kandasamy

Mr B. M. Dayawansa

Eng. S. Ilangovan

Mrs. Nilakshi Gunasekara

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The Technical and Vocational Standing Committee Chairman Dr. T A Piyasiri welcomed all of
members of the committee. All members made a brief self-introduction.

The Chairman of the Committee presented the 9 themes considered at the Workshop held on
12 December 2017 and the sub-topics identified under each topic. The sub-topics have been
identified by considering the output of group work of the workshop and the expert knowledge
of some stakeholders. A group of 6 – 8 persons had been identified to study on each topic and
these persons had been selected from among the participants at the workshop and the persons
who are actively engaged in TVET activities. Committee approved to recommend the topics and
the group members to the Commission with minor amendments (Annex 1). Tertiary and
Vocational education Policy (Annex 2)

The Chairman of the committee then presented the methodology that will be adopted in
formulating Policy Proposals. Each group will have 2-3 formal meetings and study the issues
and matters pertaining to the topic in depth with available data, research publications etc. and
present the policies and key strategies to achieve policy objectives. The activity schedule and
the budget were also presented. Group members will be paid the meeting allowance when they
attend meetings and the person identified by the respective group to write the report will be
paid an honorarium of Rs. 30,000/=. After a discussion, the committee recommended the
methodology, activity plan, budget and payment terms for approval of the commission.

Prepared by

D D C Kalubowila/ SPRO/NEC

Annex 1

Process of formulating Policy Proposals in Technical and Vocational Education

1. Introduction

National Education Commission has begun the formulation of Policy Proposals

for Technical and Vocational Education sector. The Policy proposals formulated
and published in year 2009 need to be re-visited and revised taking into account
educational, technological economic and social changes during the last 10 years
and also looking at the trends in economic progress. The first workshop in this
regard was held on 12th December 2017 with the participation of members of the
Standing Committee on Technical and Vocational Education and other
stakeholders. Workshop participants worked in groups under each given topic
and the output was presented at the plenary session.

2. Proposed methodology for Policy Proposal formulation

It is proposed to adopt the participatory approach by using groups of competent

persons working in each topic. Each group will comprise of 6-8 persons who will
contribute with information and data, analyze the matters under the topic and
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 arrive at policy proposals through consensus. The groups formed at the
workshop may be expanded to include competent persons who have specialist
knowledge in the relevant topic.

Each group will select a person who will lead the discussion and produce a draft
report that include policy proposals. When all nine draft documents are ready, a
Workshop will be held with the participation of stakeholders to discuss the
policy proposals and validate them with suitable amendments, if any.

The validated documents will be edited for format and language uniformity by a
person who is knowledgeable in the Technical and Vocational Education Sector.
Subsequently, the document will be translated to Sinhala and Tamil languages
and printed.

The documents will be brought to the notice of the Standing Committee and the
Commission at the development stages for comments and approval as
appropriate.

3. Estimated Budget

Estimated budget is given in the Annex. It is proposed to provide the meeting

allowance for participants at the working sessions and pay an honorarium of Rs.
30,000/- to the member of the group who drafts the report.

4. Scope of Work

1. Increase of access to TVET in state and private sectors.

1. Overcoming negative Social perceptions on Vocational Education

2. Social recognition and job security, salary and retirement benefits
3. Lower interest to Technical Areas and moving towards Service Sector
4. Financial support to trainees
5. Inadequacy of equipment, facilities and teachers
6. Promoting flexibility of learning
7. Private sector promotion - Training purchase model
8. Expanding Apprenticeship based training
9. Expansion of training programmes to new trades
10. Participation of women

2. Optimal utilization of Physical, Financial and Human Resources.

1. Size and spread of training centers

2. Inter-relation among TVET institutions when taking investment decisions

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 3. Focusing of investment in areas of high labour market demand and aspects
of Return on Investment (ROI)
4. Utilization of training centers, maintenance and upkeep
5. Budget preparation and effective utilization
6. Efficient internal operational procedures of reporting
7. Allocating and retaining quality staff
8. Administering Apprenticeship based training
9. Aspects of macro level planning

3. Relevance and quality of TVET Programmes, including student admission,

selections criteria and medium of instruction.

1. Further development of NVQ framework

2. Processes of competency standard development, curriculum development
3. Assessment and certification
4. Harmonizing of the duration of courses
5. Incorporating entrepreneurship education
6. Regulatory processes of Registration, Accreditation and Quality Assurance
7. Student admission criteria and maintaining the correct balance of students
in Certificate and diploma courses.
8. Use of labour market information in determining student numbers for
different fields/trades.
9. Medium of instruction in Certificate and Diploma courses
10. Policy on continuing Non-NVQ Courses in State Institutes
11. Mapping of Non-NVQ qualifications to NVQ qualifications

4. Rationalization of training programmes at regional level to minimize overlap

1. Rationalization of training programmes among institutions at regional level

(criteria)
2. Establishing Diploma NVQ (5-6) institutes and courses (criteria).
3. Redeployment of staff and equipment
4. Administration and monitoring of rationalization process and its continuity.
5. Accurate and timely information gathering
6. Accommodating special interventions of training
7. Aligning to the mandate of the institute.

5. Interrelation among industry, employers, employees and TVET

1. Industry role and participation in Competency Standard and Curriculum

development and planning.
2. Role of Industry Sector Councils.
3. Recognition of TVET qualifications, NVQ in particular, in industry for
recruitment, promotion and salaries/remunerations.

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 4. Raising employer and employee awareness on TVET programmes for skills
upgrading.
5. Raising awareness of employers to recruit trained women and social and
policy barriers of women working in industry.
6. Collaborations for identifying training needs of Foreign Employment and
Free Trade Industrial Zones.
7. Industry collaborations for On the Job Training.

6. Interrelation of TVET with General Education and Higher Education

1. Technical/Vocational education in General Education.

2. Holistic integrated approach to Technical and Vocational Education in
General Education and TVET.
3. Promoting and facilitating school leavers to take TEVT courses.
4. Accreditation of school based Technical/Vocational courses for NVQ
awards.
5. Technical/Vocational teacher training at Diploma and Degree levels.
6. Recognition of TVET qualifications for University Education at Diplomas,
Degree and PG levels through SLQF

7. Recruitment and Career Progression of TVET Lectures/ Instructors

1. Qualifications and experience at recruitment.

2. Contract and visiting Lectures/Instructors.
3. Development of teaching/training skills.
4. Development of career TVET teachers.
5. Continuous upgrading of technical competencies.
6. Development of TVET applied research capabilities.
7. Criteria for promotions.
8. Advanced training for managerial positions.

8. TVET provision for disadvantaged groups

1. Identification of dis-advantaged groups in the current context.

2. Assessment of extent of training facilities already available for
disadvantaged groups.
3. Special training provisions needed.
4. Special training/education competencies for instructors.
5. Integration with trainees in common training centers.
6. Conditions of competency assessment and certification.

9. Information gathering, dissemination and career guidance

1. Identifying information for TVET planning and the sources of such

information.
2. Accuracy and completeness of data.
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 3. National level data collection and sharing.
4. Modes of dissemination to target groups.
5. National Career Guidance Council or similar body to coordinate career
guidance.
6. Target groups for Career Guidance.
7. Capacity building of CG units in schools and TVET institutions.
8. Networks for e-learning and M-learning as modes of teaching.
9. E-platform to collaborate with training institutes and industry.

Members of working groups

Group list
Group 1: Increase of access to TVET in state and private sectors.

No. Name Institute

1. Mr. B.H.S. Suraweera Program Reforms Specialist

Ministry of Skills Development & Vocational Training

2. Mr. Sunil Liyanarachchi Chairman, Construction Industry Sector Council

3. Mr. Sunil Karunaratna Director Training, NYSC

4. Mr. P.U.I.Perera Director,Ocean University of Sri Lanka

5. Mr. Vajira Perera Director, Standard and Accreditation, TVEC

6. Mr.B.M. Dayawansa Director,University Collage of Batangala

7. Mr.U. I. Niyadandupola Principal,Wayamba Technical College (pvt.), Kurunegala

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Group 2: Optimal utilization of Physical, Financial and Human Resources.

No. Name Institute

1. Eng. Dr. Lionel Pinto Chairman, Vocational Training Authority

2. Dr.D.D.D. Suraweera Dean, Faculty of Industrial Technology, UNIVOTEC

3. Mr. J. C. K. Basnayake Director General, NAITA

4. Mr. Rajith Pieris Director/Finance, MSD&VT

5. Mr. Nevil Edirisinghe Deputy Director, DTET

6. Mr. S. Ilangovan Director, Textile & Apparel Institute

7. Mr. Laksiri Abegunaratna DGM, Finco Group

Group 3: Relevance and quality of TVET Programmes, including student admission,

selections criteria and medium of instruction.

No. Name Institute

1. Mr. S.U.B. Rubasinghe Director, NVQ, TVEC

2. Mr. W.D. Fernando Consultant, WUSC

3. Mr.Shyaman Udayanga Senior Lecturer, Uni. Of Sri Jayawardhanapura

4. Mrs. Deepthi Kumari Principal, Automobile Training Institute,

Orugodawatta

5. Mr. B M C N Balasuriya Deputy Director, DTET

6. Mr. Susantha Jaysinghe Deputy Principal, IET, Katunayake

7. Mrs. Chandramali Liyanage Director, National Crafts Council

8. Mr. W.M.N.I.Bandara Principal,Technical College -Warakapola

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Group 4: Rationalization of training programmes at regional level to minimize overlap

No. Name Institute

1. Dr. W. Hilary E Silva Director General, SLIATE

2. Dr. (Mrs). RenukaNilmini Uni. of Sri Jayawardanapura

3. Mr. S P. K. Amarasinghe Ceylon German Technical Training Institute

4. Mr. Nilantha de Silva Deputy Director, NAITA

5. W. K. D. Harischandra Deputy Director, TVEC

6. Mr. S Hemachandra Principal,Technical College- Kalutara

7. Mrs. Shanthi Edirisinghe Director, Training, VTA

8. Mrs. Nilanthi Sugathadasa Additional Secretary, MSD&VT

Group 5: Interrelation among industry, employers, employees and TVET

No. Name Institute

1. Dr. K.L. Chandrathilake Employers Federation of Ceylon

2. Mr. Priyanka Ratnamalala Director General,Industrial Development Board

3. Dr. N Wikramasinghe Commission Member NEC

4. Mrs. Chandrani Premaratna Director, Assessments, TVEC

5. Mrs. A C S I Mumthas Technician, Textile & Apparel

6. Mr. Mangala Randeniya DG, Foreign Employment Bureau

7. Mr. Kamalanath Jinadasa Manufacturing &Engineering Services

(Chairman, MESSCO)

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Group 6: Interrelation of TVET with General Education and Higher Education

No. Name Institute

1. Prof K. Kandasamy Commission Member/NEC

2. Mr. N T K Lokuliyana Director, Technology Education, NIE

3. Rtd. Prof. B. D. Nandadewa Senior Lecturer, Uni.of Kelaniya

4. Mr. Sarath Gunathilaka Assistant Director, National Skills Council

5. Rev. Father Reginold Fernando Principal, Don Bosco Civil Institute, Matiyagane

6. Mr.K P Lalithadeera National Human Resource Development Council

of Sri Lanka

7. Mr. K A P Seneviratna Technology Teacher, Ananda College

8. Mrs. J.K.Kanthi Senior Lecturer, UNIVOTEC

Group 7: Recruitment and Career Progression of TVET Lectures/ Instructors

No. Name Institute

1. Prof. M R Podinilame Senior Lecturer, University of fine Arts

2. Mr. M .Dayananda Senior Lecturer, University of fine Arts

3. Mr. H. A. S. Rasanga National Youth Crops

4. Mrs. Sujanthi Mayadunne Director/Planning, MSD&VT

5. Mrs. Chulangani Perera Director General, VTA

6. Mrs. Shriyani Amunugama Acting DD (HR), DTET

7. Mr. A.S.D. Vithana Collage of Technology-Galle

8. Mr.Channa Subasinghe Deputy Director, NAITA

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Group 8: TVET provision for disadvantaged groups

No. Name Institute

1. Mrs. H M T I Herath Assistant Director, National Secretariat for

persons with disabilities

2. Mb. Nirasha Disanayaka Ministry of Defense

3. Mr Aruna Devendra Assistant Secretary , Ministry of labor

4. Mr. P.N.Ranaweera Asst. Director, VTA (0719660571)

5. Ms. Pramodni International Labor Organization

6. Mr. Desmond Perera Principal, The Ceylon School for the Deaf and
Blind

7. Mr. T. Senthuran Deputy Director, TVEC

Group 9: Information gathering, dissemination and career guidance

No. Name Institute

1. Mr. E L K Disanayaka Director, Dept. of man power &Employment

2. Dr.Gamini Wijerathna Dean/Uni. of Kelaniya

3. Mr. L B Rajakaruna Teacher, Madirigiriya MMV

4. Mr. Manjula Widanapathirana Deputy Director, TVEC

5. Mrs. K.M.D.S.D.Karunaratne Deputy Director,Dept. of Census and Statistics

6. Mr. M.L. Priyantha Asst. Director, NAITA

7. Mr. Janaka Jayalath Director, Information Systems, TVEC

8. Mr. Poorna Banadara Chairman, IT Industry Sector Council

9. Mr Bandula P Dayaratna Former CPO, NIE

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Format for the Policy paper

(It is proposed to use a common format for writing the Policy Paper of each group.)

Topic:(This is the title of the topic assigned to the group. Group may amend the title suitably, if needed)

1. Introduction (General introduction to the topic)

2. Subtopics under the topic and the scope (Subtopicsare already given and may be revised,
clustered or new subtopics be introduced)

3. Review of policies relating to the topic, established since year 2000

4. Analysis of issues and policy proposals

4.1 Subtopic 1
4.1.1 Statement of issue(s)
4.1.2 Background information, data, statistics, inputs from publications etc.
4.1.3 Analysis of issue(s) (Analysis considering macro and micro economic and
employment considerations, past performance and future scenario)
4.1.4 Policy proposal(s)
4.1.5 Main strategies to implement policy proposal(s)

4.2 Subtopic 2
4.2.1

Reference

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