Mannar youths lack vocational training opportunities- TNA MP

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 August 2004, 08:03 GMT]
"Mannar district youths who leave schools without the opportunity of going to universities and other high educational institutions to obtain high studies are tempted to engage in illegal activities to earn a living. Vocational training for these youths are absolutely necessary to provide alternate employment opportunities for these youths," said Mr.Selvam Adaikalanathan, Vanni district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian in a letter Minister Mr.Piyasena Gamage, Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational and Technical Education.

If a technical college is established in Mannar district these youths could be provided with technical and vocational training education, which will make them to find employment in public or private sector or self-employment, said Mr.Adaikalanathan in his letter.

Mr.Adaikalanathan reminded the Minister that the former government in 2003 had promised him to open a vocational training institute in Mannar district as a first step to establishing a technical college to cater the urgent needs of school dropouts and those youths who have failed to get places in universities.

Youths in Mannar district who have no opportunities to find self-employment or any other job facilities are likely to become smugglers and or engage in other illegal activities to earn for their livelihood.

Recent media reports say that the Mannar district has become a haven for smuggling activities. The government in power should take immediate steps to establish a technical college in Mannar district and as a prelude to this project, the government should open a vocational training institute in Mannar as promised earlier, Mr.Adaikalanathan said in his letter.