PUCSL to empower 10,000 plumber technicians with NVQ qualification

Friday, 17 December 2021 03:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Handing over the agreement by PUCSL Director General Damitha Kumarasinghe to State Minister of Skills Development, Vocational Education, Research and Inventions Dr. Seetha Arambepola

Chairman Janaka Ratnayake says PUCSL always seeks opportunities to uplift water services industry as well as people engaged in the industry
Aims to promote drinking water conservation and reduce wastage of water
PUCSL signs MoU with TVEC, VTA and NAITA to provide Free NVQ3 for plumbers

The Public Utilities Commission (PUCSL), the regulator of the electricity industry and the designated regulator for water services industry, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC), Vocational Training Authority (VTA) and National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) to provide free National Vocational Qualification level 03 and level 04 for plumbers in Sri Lanka.

“Regulation of the Water Service Industry of Sri Lanka assigned to PUCSL by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka Act No. 35 of 2002 or PUCSL Act. Although we have drafted the framework to regulate the Water Services Industry and the Industry Act, we are yet to be empowered with amendments to the Acts.

“But as the designated regulator and with the ambition of uplift the industry, we always seek opportunities on how our contribution can be made to protect the interest of consumers of the Water Services Industry and to promote safety, reduce waste, promote conservation, and service quality in Water Services Industry,” PUCSL Chairman Janaka Ratnayake said.

“Sri Lanka has approximately 10,000 plumbers and most of them do not hold any qualification. So, empowering plumbing technicians engaged in the water service industry to achieve the NVQ3 under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system, will promote safety, reduce waste, promote conservation, increase service quality, and value for money for the pipe-borne water consumers.

“This program is fully sponsored by PUCSL and the plumber technician does not need to pay for the exam fees, the course fee, materials and other requirements of gaining the qualification,” Ratnayake added.

Under the RPL program, the PUCSL will access the knowledge of the plumbers, fill the knowledge gap and hold the exams within 04 days and award the certification at no cost to the plumbers. The PUCSL launched the first program of awarding the NVQ3 qualification to plumbers in Kalutara District yesterday with the participation of 100 plumbers.

Earlier this year, PUCSL introduced a similar program for electricians in Sri Lanka and more than 5000 electricians have obtained the qualification. NVQ3 is the minimum qualification for obtaining an electrician license. Also, PUCSL launched a program to upgrade the knowledge of Solar Technicians in Sri Lanka and more than 1,000 solar technicians have obtained the qualification so far.

Signing of the MoU by PUCSL, NAITA, VTA, TVEC