National Apprentice and Technical Training Authority, the forerunner of development
View(s):Sri Lanka National Apprentice and Technical Training Authority is dedicated to provide opportunities to the young men and women who take an interest in vocational training for a happier, fuller and pleasanter future after leaving school.
The authority has implemented an effective programme with the help of several leading business establishments, and factories to 
provide 150 vocational training courses in 22 fields. Statistically more than 26000 young men and women pass out every year after a perfect training in their relevant fields. National Apprentice and Technical Training Authority is the only state institution that provides the opportunity to the youth to gain vocational training of international standard.
The present Chairman of the authority Chandana Arunadeva Silva has opened up vast new fields of vocational training and given a new impetus to the activities of the authority.
Established about 40 years, Sri Lanka National Apprentice and Technical Training Authority was the pioneer vocational training institution in Sri Lanka. In the 1970s, the drop outs at the university entrance had nowhere to turn for want of opportunities for vocational training. The British rulers who originated the present system of education had ignored the need of vocational guidance or training in a specific field to harness manpower for the development of the country. National Apprentice and Technical Training Authority was established to meet this long felt need.
The vocational training programmes were designed to produce skilled craftsman for local industries who contribute towards the industrial development of the country.
Statistically 24,000 graduates pass out annually from the 18 universities in the country. However it is sad that about 50 percent of them are left without employment for years.
Sri Lanka National Prentice and Technical Training Authority has designed its programmes to suit the standard of education of the entrants and the requirement of higher educational qualifications at the selection would not arise.
The trainees who successfully complete their training are guaranteed with employment in their respective fields. They are expected to contribute towards the gross national product of the country. A large number of young men and women who received the internationally recognized certificate of training awarded by the authority are employed abroad.
Chairman of the National Apprentice and Technical Training Authority Chandana Arunadeva Silva said he has an effective plan to streamline the affairs of the authority.
“ The main office of the authority is now being modernised. The scope of training programmes would be widened to meet the requirements of the on going industrial development in the country. I have decided to provide vocational training in the fields of their choice to the graduates who pass out from the universities. Unskilled workers with minimum qualifications will also have the opportunity to undergo training and receive the NVQ certificate. Vast new fields in science and technology have been opened and we must fall in line with the developing world. A team of officials have been deployed to supervise the progress of the training programmes. My plan included several new training courses to be introduced next year. Detainees in prisons countrywide and young men and women in the rehabilitation camps will also be provided the opportunity to follow vocational training courses to make a living after their release. Another project is to train 5000 agricultural marketing assistants with the help of the Department of Agriculture” He said.
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