Education Minister Susil Premajayantha highlighted the increasing demand for graduates from private universities due to the inadequate updates in state universities, during his address at the International Industrial Expo 2024 held at BMICH today.
He emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system. “Our current education system relies solely on imparting knowledge, which has become a significant challenge. Therefore, we must modernize the entire education sector,” he asserted.
Minister Premajayantha underscored the importance of research and development in driving industrial growth, stressing its integration from schools to universities. He also emphasized the transformation of university research into tangible products through strategic initiatives.
Providing a specific example, he mentioned the School Entrepreneurship Circles initiative launched by the Industrial Development Board in June 2023, which currently engages 16,000 students from 400 schools.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Ms. Thilaka Jayasundara highlighted the success of programs aimed at increasing entrepreneurship in Sri Lanka’s workforce. She noted a positive growth trajectory, with plans to raise the entrepreneurship rate from 2.8% to 10% by 2030, anticipating a significant impact on per capita income.
To support these efforts, entrepreneurship development has been incorporated into the school curriculum, alongside initiatives to enhance human resource capabilities through 12 professional skills institutes across the country.
