Tertiary Education Opportunities for Secondary School Leavers Sans "Z-Score"

January 7, 2012, 4:50 pm , The Island.

By Emeritus Professor. Dayantha Wijeyesekera
Chairman, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC)
Chancellor, University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC)
(former Vice Chancellor, University of Moratuwa and Open University of S.L.)

At a time when there is much speculation in the recent past on the Z score, an advantage is that it has created much awareness among the students, parents and society of the existence of a such a scoring /rating criteria. While Z is being focused at, there has to be more importance placed on the A, B, C grades of GCE ‘A-level’ obtained and also those who have successfully completed the GCE ‘O-level’

Have the parents and students together with the Society at large forgotten there are many other OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION other than through the Z score rating in the Conventional Universities for 22500 places ?

There are degree awarding institutes, Professional Associations Open University of SL and the fast developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.

Unless there are very good valid reasons, repeat attempts ONLY, to obtain better Z score rating are very unwise. While pursuing other available and creditworthy Job oriented Tertiary Education Courses, there will be no serious harm for repeat attempts being made.

Furthermore, spending hard earned finances or borrowed funds of the parents to proceed overseas for Higher Education, when opportunities are available locally as listed below should be carefully assessed. However, higher education leading to degree level qualifications of reputed recognized overseas universities, could be considered provided the mid level courses leading to Certificate , Diploma qualifications etc to such qualifications are conducted in legally established Tertiary Education institutes, registered by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and their courses accredited by the TVEC.

Tertiary Education is post secondary school education including higher education of which a major component is University education along with Professional education, Tertiary education, Vocational training, Skills development etc.

While some Member Associations of the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) have recognized degree equivalent Professional Courses, there are many other opportunities available in the Tertiary Education system for those with or without GCE O/L or GCE A/L qualifications respectively.

These Tertiary Education opportunities should be pursued through TVEC registered courses of study and there are available in the fields of study as shown below in the table, with most of them in many provinces in Sri Lanka.

FIELDS OF STUDY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS

Agriculture Plantation and Livestock

Languages

Art Design and Media (Visual and Performing)

Leather and Footwear

Automobile Repair and Maintenance

Marine and Nautical Science

Aviation and Aeronautics

Mechatronics Technology

Building and Construction

Medical and Health Science

Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication

Metal and Light Engineering

Finance Banking and Management

Office Management

Fisheries and Aquaculture

Personal and Community Development

Food Technology

Printing and Packaging

Gem and Jewellery

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Hotel and Tourism

Textile and Garments

Human Recourses Management

Trainer Training

Information Communication and Multimedia Technology

Wood Related

Most of these courses of study are now being aligned to the National Vocational Qualifications framework (NVQF) which ranges from NVQ levels 1 to 7, where level 7 is at degree level for some selected fields at the University of Vocational Technology at Ratmalana.

Since these appears to be a lack of sufficient awareness among senior secondary school students, parents and school authorities of these TVEC registered Institutes and courses, further information should be sought for the pursuance of these courses on Tertiary and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) from the TVEC at the 3rd Floor, " Nipunatha Piyasa" located at No 354/2 Elvitigala Mawatha or by contacting tel. no. 011-5849291. Furthermore, these details could be obtained from the website www.tvec.gov.lk and linking to the TVET Guide 2011.

While some of these courses of study would be competency based, they could be pursued on a part time basis, while being in employment or training.

In addition, to the state conventional university system, the Open University of Sri Lanka (though open and distance learning), other Higher Education Institutes, there are many other avenues and opportunities for Tertiary Education which should be sought by those who have left the secondary school seeking further education outside the conventional state university system and higher education.

It is very important and relevant that careful early decisions are taken rather than wasting time on repeating secondary education examinations, which can also be done if strongly desired, while being in tertiary education and vocational training.