Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training Democratic Socialist Republ

1.  Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

3. NATIONAL FLAG OF SRI LANKA

4. GENERAL INFORMATION OF SRI LANKA Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India Total population of male is about 9,615,000 and the female population is about 9,847,000. (Source: Statistical data sheet - 2005 Sri Lanka) Total land area in Sri Lanka is 62,750 Sq.Km Total number of persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka was 2,74,711 in year 2001 according to the Census of population and housing 2001-Sri Lanka

5. Sri Lanka Terrain: Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south central interior Natural Resources: Limestone,graphite,mineralsands,gems,phosphates,clay, hydropower Ethnic Groups: Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

6. Sri Lanka Religions: Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data) Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population Labor force: 8.08 million (2005 est.) Unemployment rate: 8.4% (2005 est.)

7. Categories of disability or questions used to identify persons with disabilities in the 2001 Census included the following Disability in Seeing  Totally Blind  One eye blind  Weak vision Disability in Hearing/Speaking  Dumb; Deaf; Dumb and Deaf; Speaking difficulties Disability in Hands  Loss of one hand including elbow Loss of both hands including elbows Loss of one hand below elbow Loss of both hands below elbows Paralysis of one hand Paralysis of both hands Other disability in one hand Other disability in both hands

8. Categories of disability or questions used to identify persons with disabilities in the 2001 Census included the following Disability in Legs  Loss of one leg including knee Loss of both legs including knees Loss of one leg below knee Loss of both legs below knees Paralysis of one leg Paralysis of both legs Other disability in one leg Other disability in both legs Other Physical Disability Mental Disability  Mentally retarded Psychosis

9. NATIONAL POLICY ON DISABILITY FOR SRI LANKA Scope of Policy: Definition of Disability Target Groups (visual, speech, hearing, mobility, intellectual and psychiatric disable persons) Vocational Skills (Dept of Social Services & Vocational Training Main Stream) Education( Primary, Secondary and Higher Education) Housing( 14% adults with Disability have ownership of house) Use of Public Service( Health, Social Service) Marginalized Groups(Women, Children, Severe Multiple Disabilities)

10. DEFINITION OF DISABILITIES The legal definition of disability in Sri Lanka is that described in the protection of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act No28 of 1996.A “person with disability means any person who, as a result of any deficiency in his physical or mental capabilities, whether congenital or not, is unable by himself to ensure for himself, wholly or partly, the necessities of life”. This definition is a reasonably broad one, encompassing both medical and socio-economic aspects of disability.

11. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Trainees under Department of Social Service are paid Rs.40.00 (US$ 0.40) per day. For Self Employed Persons are given a toolkit to the max value of Rs. 10,000.00(US$ 100)

12. DISABILITY-RELATED ORGANIZATIONS GOVERNMENT SEMI GOVERNMENT PRIVATE NGO

13. Government Departments working with Persons with Disabilities Department of Social Services Special Education Unit, National Institute of Education Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health Department of Probation and Child Care Services National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training National Institute of Social Development (NISD) National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NSPD) Ministry of Skills Development

14. Associations working with Persons with Disabilities Association of Deaf Deaf Women’s Associations Association of Parents of Deaf Children Spinal Injuries Association Sri Lanka Autism and Aspergers Association Association for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Ceylon Association for Mentally Retarded

15. Federations, Councils, Societies, Foundations and Organizations Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf Sri Lanka Council for the Blind Sri Lanka Federation of the Deaf Handicap Rehabilitation Society Sri Lanka Foundation for Rehabilitation of Disabled Parents and Teachers Organization of Mentally Handicapped

16. TERTIARY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION COMMISSION

17. ESTABLISHED BY TERTIARY AND VOCATIONAL ACT No. 20 of 1990 TERTIARY AND VOCATIONAL (Amendment) ACT No. 50 of 1999

18. OBJECTS OF THE COMMISSION Planning, co-ordination and development of tertiary education and vocational education at all levels in keeping with human resource needs of the economy. Development of a nationally recognized systems for granting of tertiary education awards and vocational education awards including certificates, and other academic distinctions. Maintenance of academic and training standards in institutes, agencies and all other establishments providing tertiary education and vocational education.

19. DIVISIONS OF THE COMMISSION Planning and Research Accreditation and Standards National Vocational Qualifications Information Systems Administration and Finance

21. Planning & Research Division Preparation of Vocational Education & Training (VET) Plans Research on TVET Sector Public, Private and NGO Sector Financial Assistance Schemes

22. Accreditation and Standards Division Registration of TVET Providers Accreditation of Courses in Registered TVET Providers Preparation of Accreditation Standards Quality Management of Courses

23. National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ) Division Promotion of NVQ System Assistance for the Establishment and Propagation Competency Based Training Courses Certification and Data Management

24. Information Systems Division Management and Operation of Management Information System (MIS) Labour Market Analysis TVEC Publications Library and Related Services Maintaining UNEVOC Centre

25. Administration and Finance Division Administration and Secretarial work of Commission Financial Management

26. SUITABLE EMPLOYMENTS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Air Conditioning / Refrigeration – Speech Carpentry - Hearing Coir Work - Mobility Textile Weaving – Visual, Mobility Cane Work - Mobility Agriculture- Speech, Hearing Automobile Electrician - Speech

27. Vocational Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka The Department of Social Services is the major state organization responsible for providing vocational training to people who have disabilities. Their services can be obtained in segregated locations in 7 centres run directly by the Sri Lankan government. A further 11 centres are managed by Non Governmental Organizations and these centres are registered with the department.

28. Seven Vocational Training Centres for Disabled in Sri Lanka Rehabilitation Centre for Drug Addicts, Navodaya, Colombo Vocational Training Centre, Liyanagemulla, Seeduwa Rehabilitation Centre for Mentally Retarted Children, Amunukumbura, Wathurugama Vocational Training Centre, Ketawala, Lewla, Kandy Vocational Training Centre, Wavinna, Wattegama Vocational Training Centre, Thelambuyaya, Angunakolapelessa Child Guidance Centre, 11, Wela Rd, Pathiragoda Rehabilitation Hospital, Ragama (Ministry of Health)

29. Strengths for Vocational Rehabilitation Large net work of Technical/Vocational Training Centres (more than 1000 centres) Available 45 National Skills Standards Available 45 Competency Based Training Curricula National Teacher Training School for Technical Teachers Enough self employment opportunities Good Educational Background Educational Opportunities

30. Barriers to Obtain Vocational Training Attitudes towards the disability persons by private employers Finding accommodation in urban cities High cost of raw materials Poor information on disability persons Accessibility barriers Communication barriers Cultural Barriers Family and Societal expectations Environment and transportation accessibility Barriers Assistive devices Poor Awareness Among Disable Persons No Special Vocational Training Centre for Each District

31. Thank you