SLIATE to increase annual student enrolment to 30,000

Tuesday, 31 December 2019 01:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The annual student enrolment of Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technical Education (SLIATE) is to be increased to 30,000, said Science, Technology, and Research State Minister Thilanga Sumathipala.

He shared this target during a recent observation tour at the Advanced Technological Institute (ATI) Jaffna that the Minister took part in, along with the Science, Technology, and Research Secretary Chinthaka Lokuhetti and various SLIATE officials.

“Currently, the 19 advanced technical education institutes in the country enrol only 10,000 students annually,” Sumathipala said, adding that the Government is taking steps and developing infrastructure to increase this number to 30,000.

He added that courses offered by the institutes will be streamlined with added focus on technology, and select programs will be extended to a degree level. These changes are to be made within the next three years and will be detailed in a strategic development plan to be released by the Ministry.

In addition to the observation tour at SLIATE, Sumathipala also visited the Vavuniya and Anuradhapura ATIs on the same day in an effort to take steps to improve the quality of education and develop infrastructure at these institutes.