Craftsmen: From A Lack to A Lakh

The number of masons and carpenters in Sri Lanka has been dwindling, and successive governments have failed to adequately address the problem. The recent appointment of a Minister for Construction & Engineering Services – Dr Rajitha Senaratne - is, however, expected to stop the decline and bring about resurgence.

Interestingly, the obstacle is not of earning potential associated with these crafts, but of social status (or lack thereof). “A mason, carpenter or plumber is able to earn more than a graduate civil engineer”, confirmed Prof. Dayantha Wijeyesekera, member of the National Education Commission, while delivering a lecture on ‘Tertiary Education Opportunities in Sri Lanka’ on Thursday.

Talking to Sunday Times FT about his vision, the new Cabinet Minister, Dr Senaratne, recently said, “I would like one lakh people to be trained for the local as well as foreign market in two to three years.” He also envisages that workers and contractors be registered, so that their welfare could be better looked after.

The Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI) has an onerous responsibility in this regard, playing – as it does - the lead private sector role in the training of construction craftsmen. Dakshitha Talagodapitiya, CEO of CCI, explained the importance thus, “To attain a GDP growth trajectory of 8%, an immediate enhancement of construction capacity is called for.”

The CCI has therefore entered into collaboration with Lyons-based Bioforce Development Institute, a French agency that imparts training. The agency offers experiential training in masonry and carpentry skills. ”We pay the trainees Rs 100 to 300 per day as stipend, to learn”, says Talagodapitiya. This initiative is being facilitated by the French Red Cross, and is partly funded by Suntel - as a corporate social responsibility initiative. Two training centres, in Galle and Matara, are already operational. The CCI intends to start the next one at Hambantota.

The CCI is also involved in training supervisory staff for the construction industry, in association with City & Guilds.

But will this training be recognized and will it provide the much-needed social status? Dr T A Piyasiri, Director General of Tertiary & Vocational Education Commission, opines that the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) system will address the recognition concern by:

(a) Making the courses relevant, so that they churn out competent and certified craftsmen for various occupations and

(b) Formulating a unified qualification framework, wherein competency standards are specified for 100 different occupations by 2008.

Dr Piyasiri confirms that the Commission has already provided curricula, standards and assessment criteria to the CCI. These have been made available for masons, carpenters, plumbers and household electricians, upto four different levels of competency. This will ensure that the training imparted will fall squarely within the ambit of what the NVQ system is attempting to establish.

Even from the viewpoint of livelihood development, training of construction craftsmen is an opportune initiative. Training can be imparted to even vulnerable sections, thus providing them with the opportunity for gainful employment in a relatively short time.

The craftsmen are coming... So, go ahead - plan that dream house!