Germany extends € 7 m grant for vocational training project

• Cabinet nod to ink MoU between Education Ministry and GIZ

The Federal Republic of Germany has pledged a grant of € 7 million to roll out the Vocational Training Phase II Project. 

The initiative will span 2023-2026 and aims to further enhance the quality and accessibility of vocational education and training in the country.

The GIZ Institute, acting as the implementing agency for the Federal Republic of Germany, will oversee the execution of the project. 

The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved the proposal presented by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the GIZ Institute and the Education Ministry to formalise the collaboration, marking a pivotal step towards advancing vocational training in Sri Lanka.

The draft agreement, scrutinised by the Department of Foreign Resources and the External Affairs Ministry has cleared the legal hurdles, receiving the Attorney General’s clearance. 

“The approval from these key authorities sets the stage for the signing of the agreement, reinforcing the commitment to the project’s successful implementation. It is a 100% grant extended by Germany,” the Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing he said that the signing of the MoU will mark a collaborative effort to elevate the standards of vocational training, empowering individuals and contributing to the overall development of Sri Lanka’s workforce.