Thirteen Years Guaranteed Education: Interest of Plantation Sector Students’ on Vocational Education (A Study Based on Tamil Medium School in the Kegalle Educational Zone)

The introduction of the 13 Years Guaranteed Education Program in 2017 marked a significant turning point in the development of vocational education in Sri Lanka. This initiative was designed to ensure that all students remain within the school system for 13 years, regardless of their performance at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) examination. A key objective of the program is to provide vocational training opportunities, particularly at NVQ Level 4, for students who do not qualify for the traditional Advanced Level (A/L) academic stream, thereby reducing school dropout rates and improving employability. This study focuses on the level of interest in vocational education among plantation sector students, specifically within Tamil medium schools in the Kegalle Educational Zone. Despite the availability of this program, student participation remains low in this sector. The research aims to identify students’ interest levels, examine the challenges they face, and assess the awareness of the program among students, parents, and teachers. A mixed-method research design was employed, utilizing questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions for primary data collection, alongside secondary data sources such as official documents. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Excel, incorporating both quantitative (correlation analysis) and qualitative approaches. The findings reveal limited awareness of the program, low student participation, insufficient resources, challenges in teaching and learning processes, limited availability of practical subjects, inadequate institutional support, and lack of parental encouragement. The study recommends enhancing awareness, improving facilities, ensuring proper supervision, and expanding program availability to increase its effectiveness and accessibility.