Sri Lanka

Since 2022, DVV International has been active in Sri Lanka, where it registered its regional office for South Asia at the end of 2023.

Due to the economic and financial crisis in 2022 that engulfed Sri Lanka and led to supply bottlenecks and a wave of impoverishment among the population, the education sector in the country also experienced setbacks. Many programmes were limited, especially for disadvantaged population groups in rural areas, and in some cases they were cancelled outright. However, thanks to an intensive exchange with government representatives and non-governmental organisations, new opportunities were opened up to explore how existing educational services in these regions could be coordinated more closely, and how more targeted and effective offers could be made with the help of DVV International.

Compared to other countries in South Asia, Sri Lanka’s official education indicators are relatively good. The literacy rate is officially 91.7 per cent, and 80 per cent of citizens over the age of 25 have spent at least a few years at secondary school.

Adult learning and education (ALE) takes place primarily in the non-formal sector. It is mainly offered through Community Learning Centres (CLC) and includes literacy courses as well as income-generating measures. The Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training also offer (vocational) adult learning and education programmes. ALE courses offered by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are particularly geared towards development issues.

Main focus of work

• Strengthening the ALE system: A joint strategy is being developed by various stakeholders to improve education in disadvantaged regions. Part of the strategy is a new model for a better pooling of resources among educational services across different sectors (education, vocational training, career counselling, agriculture, small businesses), particularly in disadvantaged regions. This model is currently being implemented and evaluated at a number of pilot locations.
• Professionalisation: As part of this process, education managers and trainers are equipped to better identify needs and gaps in the system and to develop solutions in cooperation with other stakeholders. This also includes training in the design of educational programmes, teaching and learning techniques as well as evaluation methods.
• Qualification: In two pilot locations, coordinated training services are to be offered for disadvantaged target groups to help them find their bearings, acquire necessary skills and thus generate income.

Partners

The most important partners for DVV International are the government ministries and authorities responsible for ALE as well as the Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning.