Skills mismatch

The never ending saga of Sri Lankas job market-Tuesday 11th March 2014

The ords ski!!s mismatch entered Sri Lankas job market vocabu!ary after the first youth revo!t in 1"#1$ The %overnment of the day obtained the assistance of &'() and *L+ to get the services of )rof$ (ud!ey Seers, (irector of the *nstitute of (eve!o-ment Studies of the &niversity of Susse., /ng!and, to !ook into the reasons for youth unrest$ *n a groundbreaking re-ort, (r$ Seers -in-ointed the ski!!s mismatch hich e.isted in the Sri Lanka em-!oyment scene as the fundamenta! reason for the unrest$ The -rocess of education -roduced a ty-e of youth hose ski!!s ere !iteracy in the nationa! !anguages, some numeracy and kno !edge in the humanities and socia! sciences, and !itt!e e!se, hi!e the em-!oyment market, outside %overnment em-!oyment, hich as at that time a!so saturated, demanded technica! and vocationa! ski!!s for the manufacturing and service sectors$ +nce the

-rob!em as identified, the %overnment of the day moved to -rovide so!utions by revam-ing the 'ationa! 0outh Service 1ounci! 2'0S13, hich had been set u- in 1"45, setting u- the 'ationa! 6--rentice scheme through the 'ationa! 6--rentice 7oard and genera!!y -roviding more funds for the vocation and technica! education sector, hich as o-erating under the same ministry hich as hand!ing universities and so getting the -roverbia! ste--mother!y treatment$ 8ocationa! and technica! training *t as not unti! the ne %overnment as estab!ished in 1"## that vocationa! and technica! training as given its due -!ace$ The '0S1 and '67 ere em-o ered ith ne !egis!ation, the !atter renamed as the 'ationa! 6--renticeshi- and Technica! Training 6uthority 2'6*T63, the '0S1s vocationa! and technica! ca-acity as enhanced in !ea-s and bounds under a ne Minister of 0outh 6ffairs and /m-!oyment 2M069/3 and a systematic -rocess to a structured job creation e.ercise as undertaken$ +ne of these e.ercises as the com-i!ation of a 'ationa! Standard 1!assification of +ccu-ations of Sri Lanka$ +n the direction of the Ministry of 0outh 6ffairs and /m-!oyment a systematic research on 1areer %uidance information as !aunched by the '0S1 in co!!aboration ith the 1oordinating Secretariat for 8ocationa! and Technica! Training 21S8TT3 under the guidance of (r$ %unther :oe!heyer, /.-atriate 6dvisor from %T; to the 1S8TT, !ed by the 1S8TTs then (irector and additiona! Secretary to the M069/ La!ith <eerathunge, -resent!y the Secretary to the )resident$ The market no re ards ski!!ed technicians= the demand for ski!!ed -ersons from <est 6sia created that -rice esca!ation$ This is no ref!ected in !oca! -rices$ 7ut young -eo-!e, their -eers and -arents are not attracted to technica! and vocationa! training and b!ue co!!ar em-!oyment$ :no !edge of the o--ortunities and -ros-ects is vita!$ &nti! this communication and kno !edge issue is reso!ved satisfactori!y, )rof (ud!ey Seers >mismatch i!! -ersevere in Sri Lanka? The 1anadian 1!assification and (ictionary of +ccu-ations ere fo!!o ed$ This as a groundbreaking ork and ith the su--ort of human resource s-ecia!ists in the -rivate and -ub!ic sector a number of jobs ere identified, the ork described, re@uired entry @ua!ifications and e.-erience re@uired to !isted$ To this day this -ioneering ork is va!ued$

*n fact even a fe eeks ago, a human resource s-ecia!ist in the -rivate sector met me and e.to!!ed to me the va!ue of this 1areer %uidance *nformation to him, and said that he sti!! uses the book regarding his sector 2hote! and catering3 in his ork and !amented that there had been no u-date of the 1!assification made to date$ Subse@uent!y, other institutions, a 8ocationa! Training 6uthority, a &niversity of Techno!ogy and many other institutions a!so have been set u-$ Ao ever a recent ne s-a-er head!ine @uoted a -o!itica! authority in the sector stating that >B0C of educated youth in Sri Lanka ere unem-!oyed$ This as in the age grouof 1D years to 24 years$ The -erson a!so stated that 1BC of this age grou- ere in >unski!!ed em-!oyed$ Eeams have been ritten on >Lies, (amned Lies and Statistics, but these numbers have not been contested to date and e are stuck ith them$ <hy is thisF Aas )rof$ (ud!ey Seers >mismatch out!ived himF 'ationa! 0outh )o!icy 6 fe days ago, on 8a!entines (ay 2014 2* am @uoting the invitation3 the Ministry of 0outh 6ffairs and Ski!!s (eve!o-ment had the )resident of the Ee-ub!ic announce the 'ationa! 0outh )o!icy of Sri Lanka, ith much fanfare at the Sugathadasa *ndoor Stadium$ The )o!icy on the as-ect of Ski!!s (eve!o-ment and 8ocationa! Training notes si. -oints to hich re@uire attentionG The !ack of socia! recognition of technica!!y ski!!ed -ersonne! and the !ack of job o-enings= ski!! training in the regions not geared to ards em-!oyment= nationa! training standards not being reached= ski!!ed technicians not being remunerated ade@uate!y and hea!th and safety standards not being adhered to= !ack of coordination among vocationa! training institutes= instructor sa!aries are too !o $ 1!ear!y there are sti!! issues to be sorted out in this sector$ Aistory of vocationa! training The history of vocationa! training in Sri Lanka goes back to the mists of time$ The ageo!d >go!aya or a--rentice ho as taken as an assistant 2ath uda a in the vernacu!ar3 by a craftsman in time evo!ved into a -rocess of training hich as bui!t around vocationa! schoo!s$ The %overnment set u- technica! co!!eges and re!igious institutions !ike the 1atho!ic (on 7osco, the 7uddhist Sri Hinaratna 8ocationa! Training *nstitute and the Aindu Eamakrishna Mission, to name a fe , a!so got into the act$ 7ut Sri Lanka has a !ong history of a--renticeshi- on the %erman mode!$ Today e have a 'ationa! 8ocationa! Iua!ification, for hich a!! vocationa! and technica! trainees can as-ire to$ The %erman (ua! System, a -ractica! training in a orksho- environment combined ith an academic orientation in a technica! schoo! after orking hours, has been the

engine hich has em-o ered the %erman economic mirac!e$ This combination of theoretica! training in the c!assroom and hands-on technica! e.-erience on the factory f!oor in %ermany stretches to the Midd!e 6ges$ 1hi!dren are streamed for technica! education to join one of about BD0 -rescribed trades that range from baking to f!oristry and industria! machinery$ The dua! system has e.-anded overseas$ %erman foreign aid and com-anies !ike (aim!er, Siemens, Mercedes 7enJ and 8o!ks agen have taken it to other countries they have invested in inc!uding the &S6$ (ua! training in Sri Lanka (ua! training as introduced to Sri Lanka as the first-ever %erman foreign aid -roject after <or!d <ar **$ 6s is genera!!y the case, trade and aid ere c!ose!y connected in this instance too$ Short!y after bus trans-ort as nationa!ised by the State in the !ate 1"D0s, a huge order for Mercedes 7enJ buses as -!aced from %ermany$ The dearth of ski!!ed mechanics to maintain this f!eet of ne busses !ed to %ermany setting u- the 1ey!on %erman Training Schoo! at <erahera for the 1entra! Trans-ort 7oard$ This as !ater renamed as the 1ey!on %erman Technica! Training *nstitute 21%TT*3 and as shifted to the -resent !ocation at Moratu a$ The dua! training scheme as forma!!y introduced to Sri Lanka in the 1"50s ith the 6--renticeshi- Training *nstitute being o-ened u- at :atubedda funded by %erman aid$ %ermany is a major -!ayer in the vocationa! training sector in Sri Lanka assisting among others the Eai! ay (e-artment and -rivate enter-rise$ 6fter the end of the civi! ar a technica! training centre as o-ened in the 'orthern )rovince, to strengthen the ongoing )eace 7ui!ding through 8ocationa! Training )roject funded by %ermany$ The 1%TT* is considered as one of the most successfu! foreign aid -rojects in Sri Lanka in the vocationa!Ktechnica! training sector$ +ne indicator is that the !argest a!umni association of the 1%TT* is !ocated in Me!bourne 6ustra!ia, here 1%TT* graduates have migrated , taking ith them their first c!ass ski!!s re@uired even by first or!d countries$ 7ut this shou!d not diminish the contribution to Sri Lanka industry and commerce by the 1%TT*$ *t on!y sho s the high !eve! of com-etence of the graduates of 1%TT*$ (ua! system facing a crisis Ao ever the famed dua! system is facing a crisis even at its home in %ermany$ Eecent re-orts indicate that a gro ing number of schoo! !eavers are choosing to go to university instead of choosing to start an a--renticeshi- under the dua! system$ *t is -rojected that in the near future sma!! manufacturing businesses in %ermany i!!

have to strugg!e to fi!! ski!!ed -ositions$ The issue is am-!ified by the !o birth rate and the recent o--osition to migration from recent /uro-ean &nion countries and a!so traditiona! countries from hich -eo-!e migrated to %ermany !ike Turkey$ /ric Sch eitJer, )resident of the 6ssociation of %erman 1hambers of 1ommerce and *ndustry, recent!y commentedG L0ears of b!anket ca!!s for %erman to raise the -ercentage of those studying at universities have !ed to the situation that our !ecture ha!!s are bursting at the seams hi!e com-anies search des-erate!y to find a--rentices$ %ermany risks !ong-term damage as a business friend!y !ocation if the trend to ards >academicisation, no matter hat the cost, is not sto--ed$ 6s in the case of /uro-ean crisis hit countries, a high rate of graduation from university is by no means a guarantee for a f!ourishing economy and !o youth unem-!oyment$ *n 201B in %ermany BB,D00 a--renticeshi-s ent unfi!!ed$ Hetta Eum-, (irector of the *nstitute for /m-!oyment and /m-!oyabi!ity, says there has been a >canniba!isation of vocationa! training via increasing university attendance$ This >academicisation and >canniba!isation is nothing to ne to us in Sri Lanka$ *ndeed it had been a !ong tradition of -reference for hite co!!ar ty-e education and a disinc!ination for b!ue co!!ar training ski!! deve!o-ment -rograms and jobs$ This is hy our State universities are at bursting -oint, ith no funds for e.-ansion, not ithstanding a fa!! in the birth rate$ (egree a arding institutes from the or!d over are offering degree courses to Sri Lankan students and thousands of Sri Lankan students migrate for higher studies abroad and most never return$ Sri Lankas -rob!em The -rob!em hich Sri Lanka is gra--!ing ith is one of !arge numbers of students >@ua!ifying to enter State-run universities and the inabi!ity of the State system to absorb these numbers$ The fe , ho are successfu! in accessing the State universities, e.ce-t for courses !ike medicine, science, engineering, architecture and !a , face major issues in finding em-!oyment o--ortunities after graduation$ 6t one time a so!ution for the first -rob!em as attem-ted to be so!ved, by the -rovision of >e.terna! degrees, in hich the universities tested students ho sat for an e.terna! degree e.am, and gave them credentia!s if they -assed, but c!asses ere conducted by -rivate individua!s and institutes, o-erating inde-endent!y$ <hi!e these e.terna! degrees ere most!y in the humanities and socia! sciences, the second -rob!em of the em-!oyabi!ity cou!d not be so!ved$ *n fact, the e.terna! candidates found that they had more difficu!ty in seeking jobs, than the interna! degree ho!ders in the humanities and socia! sciences$ The +-en &niversity as an e.tension of this conce-t$

The %overnment had to become the em-!oyer of the !ast resort, absorbing !arge numbers of university graduates into the service of the %overnment, statutory agencies and state cor-orations$ This as c!ear!y not a sustainab!e so!ution and soon the e.terna! degree -rograms ere discontinued$ The a!ternative so!ution that evo!ved over time, as that degree a arding institutes ere set u-, training students for degrees of foreign universities, for hich the e.ams ere conducted in Sri Lanka$ This system had e.isted for a !ong time, before the restrictions of foreign e.change usage, im-osed !imitations on -ayments to foreign universities for e.am fees, etc$ There are e!!-estab!ished, degree-a arding institutes, training students for e.ams of the &niversity of London, for e.am-!e$ 6t one time, a !arge number of Sri Lankan students offered themse!ves as candidates for degrees of *ndian universities, at one time, fo!!o ing c!asses in this country$ Ao ever !imitations on remittances using foreign e.change -ut an end to this -ractice$ )rofessiona! courses, in accounting, management, marketing, etc$ a!so ere deve!o-ed over time, to meet the demand for tertiary !eve! education and the !imitation of su--!y from the state dominated system$ These courses ere in most cases from internationa!!y-recognised institutes hose credentia!s ere recognised even in other countries, and many Sri Lankan 1hartered 6ccountants, for e.am-!e, @ua!ified and migrated$ Ao ever to date, given the financia! !imitations for the State to e.-and the Statefunded university system and the credibi!ity issues ith -rivate degree a arding institutes, no !asting so!ution has been found to the -rob!em of !imitations of access to tertiary education for the thousands ho @ua!ify$ )rivate universities +ne so!ution, hich has -roved e.treme!y controversia!, has been the o-tion of -rivate universities$ 'ot -rivate degree-a arding institutes, training students for accreditation by foreign universities and institutes, by sitting for those e.aminations, but fu!!y-f!edged !oca! -rivate universities, recognised by the &niversity %rants 1ommission in terms of their enab!ing statutes$ This has been a controversia! issue due to the ingrained thinking that tuition at the university !eve! shou!d not be charged far, and that the State shou!d -rovide the tuition free of cost from ta.-ayers funds$ %iven the dire state of revenue co!!ection in the country, this is not a feasib!e -ro-osition$ Sustained socia! -ressure to o--ose this thinking M the !egacy of the >socia!ist era M and a!!o Sri Lankan fee-charging -rivate universities in Sri Lanka, recognised by the &niversity %rants 1ommission, is s!o !y

being acce-ted amidst much hosti!ity and obstructionism$ 6 recent %aJette notification -ermitting -rivate institutions to a ard degrees, in subjects inc!uding medicine, engineering and architecture, ithout conforming to -rofessiona! standards, is the !atest controversy$ 6!so a!most unnoticed, the defence sector is setting u- its o n degree a arding mechanism to officers of the services and, it is said, even to civi!ians, through the :ote!a a!a (efence 6cademy$ *t is said that civi!ian students are charged fees for tuition$ Massive +-en +n!ine 1ourses Nor this very Sri Lankan -rob!em a -ossib!e so!ution are the Massive +-en +n!ine 1ourses 2M++1s3, hich can reach mi!!ions of students around the or!d, hich may -rovide a sustainab!e so!ution to us in Sri Lanka, to dea! ith our -rob!em of access to tertiary !eve! education by @ua!ified students$ M++1s -rovide a ne ay of teaching and !earning hich is -oised to usher in a ne credentia!ing system that i!! in a fe years com-ete ith the traditiona! brick and mortar universities$ The emerging on!ine de!ivery system is more than just a distribution mechanism, it -romises students faster, more consistent engagement ith high @ua!ity educationa! content as e!! as measurab!e resu!ts$ The M++1 innovation has the -otentia! to create enormous o--ortunities for students, em-!oyers and teachers even as it u-ends the cost structure and -ractices of traditiona! cam-uses$ Nor e.am-!e The %eorgia *nstitute of Techno!ogy in the &S has joined u- ith &dacity, a M++1 su--!ier, to offer an accredited Masters degree in 1om-uter Science for &SO #,000$ (istance education is nothing ne (istance education is nothing ne $ *t has e.isted for many, many years, ranging from Sri Lankas 6t!as Aa!! to the -rinted !ecture notes made avai!ab!e by the minor staff of the Sri Lanka La 1o!!ege for students ho miss out on !ectures$ Modern techno!ogy has revo!utionised distance !earning$ The use of te!evision for distance education as -ioneered by the +-en &niversity in 7ritain$ Eecorded video ta-es and schedu!ed broadcasts ere used to su--!ement -rinted matter sent by mai!$ Later these te!evision -rograms became interactive, !ive engagements ith teachers$ *n Sri Lanka, (ia!og 6.iata )L1, the !argest mobi!e services -rovider, has recent!y introduced e-teacher, a eb-based education -orta! hich a!!o s subscribers to fo!!o tuition c!asses conducted by -o-u!ar !ecturers via the eb from any -!ace convenient to them, ithout the hass!e of a commute to a centra! !ocation$ +n demand video !ectures are avai!ab!e 24 hours of the day, seven days of the eek, and B4D days of

the year$ /-teacher is a commercia! -ro-osition, there is a charge for the service, but (ia!og c!aims that it is com-etitive!y -riced, hen com-ared ith trave! and fees for conventiona! tuition c!asses$ There are a variety of subjects and !eve!s of education avai!ab!e, ranging from the 0ear D Scho!arshi- e.amination to the %enera! 1ertificate of /ducation +rdinary Leve! and 6dvanced Leve! sy!!abi$ 6!so at the tertiary !eve!, even entrance e.ams for the Sri Lanka La 1o!!ege are said to be avai!ab!e$ Sri Lankas 'ationa! *nstitute of /ducation 2'*/3 has an education T8 channe! that is said to broadcast -rograms through a sate!!ite net ork to over 1,D00 %overnment schoo!s$ Students can atch educationa! -rograms a!igned to the schoo! curricu!um -roduced in house by the '*/$ +ver 1,000 %overnment teachers have been trained in the -rocess and -rocedure in assisting students to access 'anesa -rograms in their schoo!s$ So!ving the ski!!s mismatch -rob!em M++1s may he!- to so!ve the -rob!em for the thousand of Sri Lankans ho as-ire to a university education but ho dont find a so!ution in our e.isting brick and mortar universities, degree-a arding institutes or recent controversia! gaJetted interventions$ 7ut it i!! not so!ve the ski!!s mismatch -rob!em$ This issue has been e.acerbated by the migration of ski!!ed orkers, the e.am-!e of the strength of the 1%TT* 6!umni 6ssociation in Me!bourne 6ustra!ia, ref!ects this issue$ &nfortunate!y, technica! and vocationa! training cannot have a M++1 ty-e so!ution$ Aands-on -ractica! ork is re@uired$ Maybe the theoretica! -art of the dua! system can be done on !ine, or by video$ *ndeed in some cases, as has been mentioned, this is being done$ 7ut hands-on orksho- e.-erience is essentia!$ The so!ution in my vie de-ends on young -eo-!e being made a are of the job o--ortunities and -ros-ects avai!ab!e for ski!!ed -eo-!e$ Nor this it is vita! that 1areer %uidance *nformation System, the 'ationa! Standard 1!assification of +ccu-ations, begun by the then Ministry of 0outh 6ffairs and /m-!oyment, t o decades ago, be com-!eted and ide!y -ub!icised$ The market no re ards ski!!ed technicians= the demand for ski!!ed -ersons from <est 6sia created that -rice esca!ation$ This is no ref!ected in !oca! -rices$ 7ut young -eo-!e, their -eers and -arents are not attracted to technica! and vocationa! training and b!ue co!!ar em-!oyment$ :no !edge of the o--ortunities and -ros-ects is vita!$ &nti! this communication and kno !edge issue is reso!ved satisfactori!y, )rof (ud!ey Seers >mismatch i!! -ersevere in Sri Lanka$ 2The riter is a !a yer, ho has over B0 years of e.-erience as a 1/+ in both State

and -rivate sectors$ Ae retired from the office of Secretary, Ministry of Ninance and current!y is the Managing (irector of the Sri Lanka 7usiness (eve!o-ment 1entre$3