ADB's smart investment in Sri Lanka's talent pipeline

The Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $145 million loan for Science and Technology Human Resources Development in Sri Lanka.

The project is designed to develop new applied science degree programmes and technology degree programmes in four Sri Lankan universities.

However, only the unfolding political scenario will determine how these funds would be put to good use to build the ‘new talent pipeline’ this nation badly requires as it seeks to switch mainly from being a labor export market to a knowledge economy.

The government in 2013 introduced a technology stream into secondary education, which was supported by ADB’s Education Sector Development Programme (ESDP). And since 2015, about 7,000 students from the technology stream get qualified for higher education annually.

Later, the government selected 11 public universities to open new technology faculties. The World Bank too is providing financing for eight technology faculties.

The government further requested ADB to support the development of technology faculties in the remaining three universities—Kelaniya, Rajarata, and Sabaragamuwa – as well as for building a fully fledged engineering faculty for the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.

With this vision in mind, it is amazing to see how ADB has so far helped foster Science and Technology in the country’s secondary and higher education at a time Sri Lanka’s education system is facing several challenges in delivering quality learning, relevant to the job market, particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

If the funds are utilized in time with its vision, the projects will see three technology faculties and an engineering faculty added to its higher education infrastructure portfolio.

The project will support these universities in developing complete degree programme curricula incorporating industry inputs aligned with international standards. It will also support the recruitment and training of academic staff for new programmes.

Asked whether the ADB would keep supporting Sri Lanka in the education sector, Jayasundara says,” The ADB management will definitely consider proposals which are useful for Sri Lanka’s next development phase”.

Original source: The Island
Published on 9 November 2018