Choices at 16+


Posted on June 21, 2005  /  7 Comments

In Sri Lanka almost 90% of school-age children complete Grade 11, the grade that marks the end of the senior secondary school, but only 37% of those qualify at the GCE (O/L) examination and proceed to Grades 12 and 13, the collegiate years. Therefore, for all practical purposes, the typical school leaving age in Sri Lanka is 16, the age of an average student completing Grade 11 in Sri Lanka. We use the term 16+ to characterize the full range of school leavers no matter when they leave school.

Where do our school leavers go? A recent World Bank report estimates the net tertiary education enrollment in Sri Lanka to be about 11%, with 2.4% in public universities, 1% in public technical education and the rest or 8.5% attending various private institutions. (The Treasures of Education System In Sri Lanka, The World Bank, February 2005, Table 1.3).


How did the 8.5% out of 11% get to know about these private opportunities? The Technical and Vocational Education Commission makes a valiant effort to keep track of education and training opportunities in their sector. However, their data are not complete or up to date. Their publications are not widely available either. The University Grants Commission, the agency responsible for higher education can barely keep up with the affairs of the 13 public universities under its charge, let alone keep up with the increasing number of opportunities for receiving degrees in Sri Lanka, with most of them being local institutions offering foreign degrees. Those students attending private institutions probably got their information through the grapevine.


How do the 89% or so school leavers who are currently not in formal tertiary education acquire skills? Judging by the resume of a typical 16+ skill seeker or job seeker, these kids badly need some guidance in their further education. They seem to acquire various types of dubious credentials at significant cost. The Well-to-do can afford to try out several courses until they hit the right one. Others spend money their parents can ill afford for little gain, and stop after they run out of money. These students would have made wiser choices if better information was available to them. buy atarax

Other countries in Asia do a much better job of offering choices to their 16+ group and keeping them informed about these choices. The Studymalaysia Web site that sponsored by the government but maintained privately, is a comprehensive source of all tertiary education opportunities in Malaysia. It addresses financial concerns and offers career guidance as well. The University Grants Commission of India maintains a Fake Universities Alert for local students, and also gives information about private colleges and universities to local and foreign students through its Web site.

The Education Forum may fill part of the void by posting some information here on this Web site in a user-friendly format similar to studymalaysia.com. Have you already done any work in this area or do you have any thoughts on the topic? If so please share them here, or, stay tuned for more information.

8 Comments


  1. Perhaps this is not the right area for this info so please pass it forward if that’s the case. I freely give you the Art of Wire Tree-making to share with the children of ALL ages.
    “To give a person a tree is to give them a present.. but to teach a person how to make a tree is to give them a gift for life.”
    I don’t think I know..I just know I’m thinking.
    your humble servant,
    Ancient Clown

  2. The most Suitable Education System for Sri Lanka

    Most of educationists are presenting different comments about Education and usage of education. With their assistance education system has been designed. Although there are many difficulties to get a proper education, many students could achieve high level educational qualification. But after they got their degree, they have to stand in a queue to get a job. Is it the best education system? All human like to get a great job with a very good salary. But in Sri Lanka students have to spend money to get jobs which is more than they spent for their education. Because they have to pay a lot of money for getting extra qualifications like ICT, Management, English, etc. But most of them do not get as match with their educational qualifications.

    As far as I am concerned, our education system should be responsible for this. Our education system should be change. It should be changed according to our country. Present education system provides job opportunities in overseas but not in motherland. The government spends money for giving an education to the people in the country and once they finish it, they go aboard for a job. It is not their fault. They go to make their future successful.

    Our education system should be changed. It should create job opportunities. After that we can develop our country as well.

    For that, parents have high hopes about their children. Children like to do different activities in their childhood. It will create their future. So parents have to search it carefully and at the suitable age child should get a standard education. Stranded education should help develop their childhood talents. Parents should talk to teachers about children’s talents and their preferences. And then teachers can guide them. Since students have different talents education system should be capable to identify their talents. Some children are talent for building things, creating new things, finding some new things, etc. So our education system should change like this. So then we can develop our country.

  3. I think we need to cut year of school system.
    we have 13 year system but every other country is 12 year system .
    we waste valuable one year of students.

  4. I Want To Know about the Sri lankan Universities which we can Get an external Degee of merchentising

  5. I want To Know About The Degrees What We Have In Sri Lanka For The Students Who Sat For The Advance Level And Now Waitind For Thir Results

  6. FREE SEMINAR ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT
    IN PRINTING AND COMPUTER IMAGING
    FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS

    The INGRIN Institute of Printing and Graphics will conduct an awareness seminar for school leavers on career development in Computer Graphics, Information Technology and Printing Technology. This Seminar will help students to understand the Job Opportunities in Sri Lanka as well as abroad. The availability of study programs for higher studies locally & globally.

    For Whom:
    • To those who have sat for the GCE O/L and A/L
    • To those who have left school after completing studies
    • To those who wants to enter the printing and graphic industry
    • To those who want to use a computer to edit images
    • To those who want to find a job in a foreign country

    Where:
    • At INGRIN Institute of Printing and Graphics No 290 D R Wijewardena Mawatha Colombo 10

    When:
    • 12 January 2008 (Saturday) from 9am to 1pm

    Contact Phone numbers:
    • 011-242-1846, 011-247-2316, 011-244-5106

    Apart from learning printing, you will be able to study courses in vector graphics, multimedia, 3D Animations, Web Development which will lead you to become future managers in the Industry. Also you will be able to enhance your present English knowledge by following TOEIC course and TOEIC Examinations.(Test of English for International Communication) This is a worldwide standard for English assessment conducted by ETS.

    Both, students and parents are encouraged to participate in this seminar, as it would help them to understand how they should approach the Job Market and how can they make themselves qualified to enter into it. It is known that there is a high demand for printing related jobs in Middle-East, Australia and New Zealand. After completing printing courses at Ingrin there will be an opportunity to find a proper work abroad.

    The INGRIN institute of printing and Graphics Sri Lanka was set up under the Ministry of Vocational & Technical Training, in association with The INGRIN Foundation the Netherlands, Sri Lanka Printers Association, The Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging, International Advertising Association and Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB).

  7. I found a website called coursenet.lk which you can find latest courses in sri lanka and institutions.

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