Abstract:
Youth are very crucial component of any country. According to central bank report,
approximately 26 percent of the Sri Lankan population comprise of youth. The Ordinary Level
(O/L) and Advanced Level (A/L) examinations are very competitive and they are set with high
standards. Each year, about 200,000 and 90,000 students leave the school system, out of which
a large number of students become school drop outs, at the O/Level and A/Level examinations,
respectively. Though the dropout rates are high, the provisions taken to cater this segment
through initiatives such as vocational training, is a major challenge in Sri Lanka.
The government of Sri Lanka has introduced many training programmers with the objective of
reducing the number of dropouts. To enhance their personality with skill development,
vocational training programmers have been implemented under the Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Skills Development. In the year 2002, the National Youth Corps Training Center (NYC),
one of the largest government youth training institutions of that era, ushered a different
orientation, by focusing on training discipline, personality development and job oriented
vocational training.
This paper examines the impact of skill development training programmes in empowering
youth of Sri Lanka. It was found that the youth corpse center program influenced the youth in
a positive way in empowering their personality, discipline and vocational training. The study
was conducted through survey method. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 100
students representing 3 different youth corpse training centers in Sri Lanka.
