AHK Sri Lanka, GIZ VTSL and J.M. Wickramarachchi to start German standard courses in optometry

Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) will work together with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and private sector partner J.M. Wickramarachchi & Company Ltd. to provide a comprehensive and practice-oriented training course on Ophthalmic Technician (NVQ Level 3) and Optometrist (NVQ Level 5). The first batch of 30 students from various parts of the country including Northern and Eastern Provinces will commence their training in the coming months. 

In Sri Lanka, traditional optometry is heavily focused on theory and requires the implementation of more practical components and practices similar to the German dual system. Both courses will follow curricular endorsed by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) and will integrate elements of the German dual qualification that ensures conformity to quality standards defined by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK). This training initiative is co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and was initiated through its Business Scouts for Development (BSfD) program. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise the cooperation was signed by GIZ Sri Lanka Country Director Christiane Einfeldt, J.M. Wickramarachchi & Company President/CEO J.M. Wickramarachchi and GIZ Vocational Training in Sri Lanka Project Advisor Tatjana Rest,  

on 23 April, at the Wickramarachchi Opticians and Hearing Care branch in Nugegoda. 

“Germany being a constant innovator of cutting-edge technology, developing the course to be in par with the German standard, we strive to change the current reality of the Sri Lankan optical industry by creating more learning opportunities and developing a skill set that would ensure holistic care for the people which will allow us to produce more local and foreign employment opportunities within the industry. We are hoping to expand and initiate more courses in elite medicine in the near future,” said Wickramarachchi. 

“AHK Sri Lanka is the official representative of German Chambers of Commerce, which are responsible for coordination and certification of German dual vocational training. The Delegation will cooperate with GIZ Sri Lanka’s VTSL project and support J.M. Wickramarachchi & Company during the training with expert advice, a train-the-trainer course, stakeholder coordination, examination, quality assurance, and certification according to German standards by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK),” said German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka Delegate Andreas Hergenroether. 

Also present during the signing ceremony were AHK Sri Lanka Head of Vocational Training and Business Scout for Development Josef Tschoep, VTSL Project Advisor Tatjana Rest, VTSL Project Advisor Paatala Fernando and JMW & Co. Branch Operations Manager Kushani Samarasekara.