Sri Lanka heading for disaster if proper education system is not implemented
While the competition to enter local universities in Sri Lanka is becoming tough every year, the question of why graduates who pass out from national universities hardly find employment in the corporate world is a critical debate in today’s context.
Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) General Secretary and CEO Mangala P.B. Yapa made this comment to the Business Times on Monday on the sidelines of a media briefing on career opportunities for young people at the chamber office in Colombo. Mr. Yapa said that looking at the education system in Sri Lanka, only eight per cent of students enter both private and national universities after A/L exam, while only two per cent enter local universities.
What happens to the balance 92 per cent? Where do they go and what do they do? “It is a huge challenge that the country is facing at the moment and we will be heading towards a disaster if a proper education system is not implemented,” noted Mr. Yapa. He was speaking at the launch of the CCC Young Members Forum-organised ‘Careerlead Exhibition’ at the Rajarata University with the participation of 45 corporates which was held later in the week on 10-11 September. A similar exhibition will take place in other local universities island-wide mainly focused on students from rural villages. He said there is a huge gap between the job market and the job seekers from rural villages without being connected and staying non interactive. An exhibition of this kind would identify the gap and bridge the two parties. “We need to understand and support the students to develop their competencies, prepare and guide them for interviews and develop entrepreneurial skills through discussions and seminars. The exhibition will be an experience for undergraduate students who would know how to face interviews and interact once they become graduates.”
While opportunities are very limited to enter national universities in the country, not all graduates who pass out are competent enough to fill a vacant position. This is one of the grassroot problems among the youth in the country who grow up in rural villages, added Mr. Yapa.