Veteran
foreign employment agent pioneers …
A revolutionary skills training scheme
By Quintus Perera
Progress has been slow in Sri Lanka in changing the core concept
of the educational system to what that would be job-oriented with
vocational or skills training on various trades. However there is
a kind of revolution in the making on the skills training of youth
on various sectors with jobs being an additional bonus.
Suraj
D. Dandeniya is President, Association of Licensed Foreign Employment
Agencies in Sri Lanka and a veteran foreign employment agent - who
has launched a skills training scheme that also quickly provides
access to jobs to participants and removes the frustration of waiting
long periods for a job after acquiring skills and often a certificate.
As
an employment negotiator throughout his career he has encountered
the desperation of the youth of this country and their hunger for
some employment opportunity - which has not been adequately serviced
by vocational training centres. These centres provide training and
a certificate but thereafter getting a job is the most difficult
part.
Dandeniya
says he has observed the utter unrealistic relationship of the present
educational and skills training systems where modern international
techniques are almost none existent. As he is involved in the provision
of jobs, he became more interested in the methods of training youth
in skills.
He
found that in the present skills training programmes in the country,
apart from other disadvantages, there is a "criminal wastage
of time energy and national resources embedded in the present system."
Though a process that he has begun appears to be a pioneering one
and a kind of revolution here, in other countries these methods
are common. The process cuts down time drastically entailing the
saving of energy and resources as Dandeniya's method takes only
two months, whereas the conventional skills training methods followed
in the country would go on even for three years.
"Youth
are a force to be reckoned with. But the wrong and out-of-place
training systems in operation is an utter waste of time and pushes
them to deep frustration and isolation which ultimately causes panic
and unrest," he said adding that for youth frustration leading
to unrest, this solution is handy and tangible.
Youth
skills training is absolutely necessary as there is tremendous job
opportunities here and abroad for youth with skills training. Dandeniya
said, "The numbers would multiply with the Tsunami work accelerating".
He
said that there are many youth who have completed their 'O' Levels
and 'A' Levels and they opt for even foreign labourer jobs. He hopes
to enrol them and send them for the two-month skills training on
various trades. Once the youth complete the training they are equipped
to find jobs locally or outside the country. Dandeniya said, "They
would be reluctant to acquire labourer jobs as such jobs would fetch
only around Rs 10,000, but with the two month skills training the
remuneration could be Rs 20,000."
Dandeniya
embarked on this novel programme late last year and continues training
in Panadura, Matale, Kurunegala, Mount Lavinia, Jaffna and Galle.
The training programmes are conducted on a carefully structured
syllabus in line with courses conducted by the 'City and Guilds
Institute, London'. Dandeniya carries a license from the City &
Guilds Institute.
He
says he is on a strong footing in attracting more and more youth
and opening up more and more training centres as he conducts an
awareness and acquaintance programme through a popular television
channel. Courses are available in Masonry, Carpentry, Electrical,
Plumbing, Air-conditioning and Refrigeration. Within the two months
period theory and practice are covered. There are no eligibility
qualifications and any male over 18 years with or without any educational
qualifications could register. The courses are full-time and board
and lodging are provided. Character, spiritual and physical formations
are also looked into, while there is also an extensive practical
English course worked out.
The
Sunday Times FT visited the Panadura Skills Training Centre run
by the Suraj Dandeniya Foundation which specializes in the training
of Air-conditioning and Refrigeration. "The centres are run
under my name because I want to take responsibility for either the
positive or negative developments from this process. If something
goes wrong, we should be responsible and accountable. Either way,
the public should know who is doing it," he said.
M
M Anuruddha Jayatissa is a 20-year-old youth from Allawwa. "I
viewed the television programme conducted by Mr Dandeniya and convinced
myself that following such a skills training course would open up
my future for opportunities. I have concluded the two-month course,
here.
Now
I am confident that I could obtain respectable employment in Sri
Lanka or abroad. Though I have completed my 'A' levels, I could
not get employed because everywhere I went they wanted experience
in some trade. Now I am equipped with experience and I am guaranteed
a job," he added.
Anura
Kithsiri Fernando, 22, comes from Marawila. He has not only completed
his 'A' Levels but also completed two parts in AAT (Association
of Accounting Technicians), Diploma in International English Language
Testing System (IELTS), Diploma in Information Technology and Certificate
in Management (CIM).
He
said that he intends to migrate to a western country and the Refrigeration
and Air-conditioning Course at the "Suraj Dandeniya Skills
Development Centre' (SDSKC), Panadura would be an excellent additional
support for his eligibility."
N
T Manoj Pradeep from Tangalle had completed his 'O' Levels in 2003
but was idling for about two years as he found it very hard to get
a job. He said that he had followed a skills training course elsewhere
for six months but the instructors were not effective. Comparing
the two courses, he finds the SDSKC course to be far superior. "Now
I am proud of my qualifications and I am certain of a job."
L.
Aruna Roshan Kumara from Kuliyapitiya had failed to complete his
'O' Levels and was idling for five long years feeling completely
depressed and frustrated. "My friends even rejected me. I was
so frustrated and sick of life," he said until he took up this
skills training course which has provided him some confidence for
the future.
"I
am very happy the way things are shaping up with my novel project.
Already we have trained more than 300 and some are now working in
abroad with better remuneration while the rest are gainfully employed
locally," Dandeniya said.
At
any given time now, more than 150 are undergoing training and his
intention is to increase the number to more than 1,000. He has drawn
up a long-term plan to embrace the entire country. He said, "Many
are enlightened by the success of these programmes and a number
of them have inquired as to how they could be helpful to me in this
venture. I have drawn up elaborate plans and I would take it to
the established corporate sector for assistance. I am hundred percent
certain this would succeed since -- though the method is new to
Sri Lanka - it is an internationally accepted practice."
Dandeniya
said that similar programme are carried out in India but the difference
is that in India the courses are directly conducted by the City
& Guilds London, whereas here SDSDC itself conducts them at
a nominal sum, under City & Guilds license, using the same course
material.
He
said that if a participant is unable to meet the course fee, arrangements
are made for the trainee to pay back once he is employed. Dandeniya
is also looking for financial institutions that would undertake
paying the training course now and recovering the dues once the
borrowers are employed.
He
said that the City & Guilds certificate is recognized in 102
countries. The SDSDC programme fulfils the objectives of finding
employment in Sri Lanka in the technical field, obtaining foreign
employment, self-employment and employment with an accreditation
(Degree or Diploma). |