Level of factors which impact on students’ attitudes towards technical and vocational education and training sector in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The government of Sri Lanka incurs considerable expenditure on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in the country. Sri Lanka's TVET system is characterized by a multitude of agencies including training providers of public and private sectors, standards and curriculum development agencies and the regulatory bodies. Although TVET sector has been well organized in the country in order to give opportunities, the sector is also confronted with one major problem which is low enrollment. This is clearly observed when the data were compared in Matara District. Therefore; this study is carried out to understand the level of factors which impact on students’ attitude towards TVET sector in Sri Lanka. Eighty students in TVET Institutes and Advanced Level students in Matara District were the population of this study. The data was collected through a questionnaire from all four TVET institutes, 10 students from each TVET institute, (NAITA,VTA,TC, UC) and ten students from each Educational zone covering all four educational zones. Descriptive statistics was used to find the statistical impact of factors on Students’ Attitude towards Technical Education and Vocational Training. With the analytical results for current student enrolment parents’ influence is in unacceptable level, and other factors such as Teachers’ influence, Peers’ influence, Grades in School and Future Career and Job Potential are in neutral level. When A/L students are analyzed, parents’, teachers’ and peers’ influence can be seen in moderate level while grades in school is in agreeable level. The findings of this study would help the policy makers for promotion of Technical Education and Vocational Training system in Sri Lanka and for dealing with ongoing challenges.