SLITHM signs MOU with Ministry of Education

SLITHM Chairman Dilip De Silva and MoE Secretary M.N. Ranasinghe signing the MOU at the Education Ministry 

The Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Education (MoE) recently to train 1,200 GCE (O/Level) students under the National 13-Year Guaranteed Education Program initiated by the Education Ministry. 

Under this agreement SLITHM will train the selected students in housekeeping, front office, and restaurant and bar and cookery leading to National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 4.

“SLITHM Colombo Institute and eight provincial colleges will take part in this ground-breaking pilot program that will provide young school leavers with the best of hands-on practical skills and knowledge SLITHM is famous for,” SLITHM Chairman Dilip De Silva said.

The MoE has developed 26 vocational fields including tourism and hospitality and offered to youth who have not been successful in their O/Level studies and to continue their studies in a vocational stream focusing employment opportunities in national and international contexts. Students will undergo initial off the job training in all SLITHM provincial and Colombo facility and will be placed in selected star class hotels for the on the job training. 

Students will be regularly monitored and supervised by the SLITHM faculty and Ministry of Education officials and Industry Assessors to ensure students follow the prescribed NVQ level 4 learning outcomes. Students who successfully complete both off the job and on the job components will be awarded National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 4 certification which is equal to Advanced Level certification.

SLITHM Koggala branch has already commenced training of 71 students including 14 female students. SLITHM Passikudah branch will start a batch of 25 students on 23 September. Colombo and other provincial schools will star by end of October.

In order to make the 13-Year Guaranteed Education Program popular among the general public and industry stakeholders, SLITHM is planning to host a seminar on 25 September together with the Policy Development Office (PDO) of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Ministry of Education (MoE) at SLITH auditorium. 

“We hope to invite both private and public sector stakeholders to have a healthy dialogue to make the 13-Year Guaranteed Education Program a resounding success in Sri Lanka,” said the SLITHM Chairman.