The years 2021 – 2030 has been declared the Decade of Skills Development by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The decade is expected to see the introduction of reforms to education that will transform the general, higher, professional and vocational education and reduce the unskilled labour population to 10%, a media release from the President’s Media Unit states. Focus will be on cultivating next generation skills to be in line with worldwide trends and the 2030 Global target for sustainable development.
The move is to ‘create global technocrats and position Sri Lanka as the epicenter for human resource development in Asia by creating a digital, future-fit citizenry who will drive the development agenda of the country.” Transforming the education sector is also expected to attract international students, foreign investment as well an increase in foreign earnings remitted by skilled migrant workers.
The release adds that the President has reviewed the report on education submitted by the Task Force he appointed in line with his policy framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour,’ and has determined that the government’s primary responsibility is to develop human resources enabling all citizens to realize their full potential. The roadmap on Skills Development will feature multiple re-entry points to education facilitating life-long learning.
The President plans to initiate public dialogue on this transformational agenda to identify and meet the real needs of students, educators, professionals and parents and to broaden the national level institutions and systems, the release further states.
