Entrepreneurship education for vocational trainees

The National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) of the Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training has entered into an agreement with the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) Association of Sri Lanka to promote entrepreneurship education among the vocational trainees.

NAITA will implement the Know About Business training package as one of the distance education components to the vocational trainees through the provincial centers. The aim of such effort of introducing the KAB training is to educate and motivate young vocational trainees to choose entrepreneurship as a career option, according to a SIYB press release.

Swarnamali Abeysuriya, CEO of the SIYB Association said that the Know About Business (KAB) is a training package developed by the International Labour Organization targeting vocational trainees and the students in secondary and higher education levels.

Amal Senalankadhikara, NAITA Chairman said that the youth employment crisis is a major issue in Sri Lanka and it has become a serious concern to the government. The Sri Lankan economy cannot absorb the increasing number of new white-collar workers, despite its high growth. Encouraging the youth to create their own employment opportunities through self-employment and entrepreneurship development will be one of the best alternatives.