Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, strengthening vocational education is a core task within the education reforms we are implementing in 2025.

¶ 02 1. Within school education, curriculum reforms are planned to strengthen technical and vocational education, and plans are in place to enhance TVET opportunities after school education as well.

¶ 03 Vocational subjects have been introduced into the school system since 2018 as an Advanced Level vocational stream, and by 2025 this stream has expanded to 609 schools across all Provinces and Education Zones. Teacher recruitment has been done for 28 vocational subjects at provincial and national levels, with 1,250 teachers recruited and trained via the National Institute of Education to teach up to three vocational subjects each. Laboratories have been constructed and equipped with computers, laptops, smart boards, internet facilities and classroom equipment, with school-based funding enabling continuous practical implementation.

¶ 04 Under this stream, irrespective of G.C.E. (O/L) outcomes, students are admitted to Grade 12, and after six months of school-based soft skills development and vocational orientation, they are directed to 154 NVQ Level 4 courses at public TVET institutes, culminating in National Vocational Qualifications.

¶ 05 Under the new reforms, the “skills stream” is to be introduced for Grades 10 and 11 as a basket subject in every school, with a modular curriculum under development by the National Institute of Education. The number of schools implementing A/L vocational subjects will be increased from 609 to 1,000. Thus, students will have a continuous four-year pathway from Grade 10, followed by aligned tertiary options.

¶ 06 Post-school TVET: With ADB support, a strategic plan is being prepared for the TVET sector in consultation with all stakeholders; the full plan is targeted for completion by September 2025.

¶ 07 Regarding teacher training and infrastructure: - For Grades 10/11 vocational subjects, teachers will be recruited and trained via National Colleges of Education. - Continuous capacity development for current vocational teachers will be implemented annually over the next five years, with industry collaboration to ensure exposure to current trends and practical applications. - Subject content of the vocational stream will be reviewed and modular updates completed during 2026–2027.

¶ 08 TVET teacher training: Under the University of Vocational Technology Act, UniVOTEC is responsible for training of TVET instructors and will conduct “training of trainers” programmes. We aim to provide adequate and sustained resources for a structured, ongoing process. Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH) has proposed support to address long-term TVET teacher training gaps; discussions are underway. Additionally, through the Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) in Manila, around 80 TVET personnel are trained locally/online annually, and about five overseas training opportunities are facilitated each year.

¶ 09 A dedicated TVET Teacher Training and Applied Research Institute is proposed with KOREATECH support under the Korean Government’s EDCF concessional financing. A Ministry-level committee is formulating a concept paper for the institute and required human resource development.

¶ 10 Over the next five years, to meet skills needs and build a skilled workforce, the following project proposals have been submitted to the Department of National Planning: - Construction of a multi-storey (48-classroom) building at the Nuwara Eliya Technical College under the Department of Technical Education and Training. - Establishment of an Online Knowledge Assessment Centre by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission. - Upgrading one training centre of the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) in each Province to a Centre of Excellence. - Skills Development System Transformation Programme under the Skills Development Division. - Completion of the three-storey male hostel at the Kilinochchi Centre under the Sri Lanka–German Training Institute (SLGTI). - Expansion and modernization of SLGTI Borella Regional Centre and introduction of a Techno-Commercial Sales Management course. - Establishment of the Asian Centre for Energy Transition (ACET) for renewable energy training in collaboration with SLGTI–Moratuwa, SLGTI–Kilinochchi and the proposed Hambantota Solar Park Training Centre.

¶ 11 These proposals focus on strengthening TVET infrastructure, introducing new courses, and training instructors locally and internationally.

¶ 12 Rest of the detailed answer is tabled.