Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2023-11-27 (Subject to Confirmation at the next Meeting)

Endorsement of South Asia Qualification Reference Framework in Sri Lanka

- The 18th meeting of the SAARC Heads of State held in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2014 had a primary focus on expanding cooperation among regional countries wherein the basic foundation has laid for the emergence of this South Asia Qualification Reference Framework. As a result, the drafting of the South Asia Qualification Reference Framework to identify competencies in the education sector as well as in the workforce has been initiated in the year 2020 with the involvement of the International Labor Organization. Sri Lanka has participated in the Technical Committee Meetings for that purpose and the concurrence has been granted for the South Asia Qualifications Framework drafted by the Ministries in charge of subject of education in the Member States including Sri Lanka. This South Asia Qualification Reference Framework does not create any legal obligation for the qualification frameworks of each member country, and serves as a link to the qualification frameworks of other countries in the region. The recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and clearance of the Attorney General have been given pertaining to the enforcement of the South Asian Qualification Reference Framework in Sri Lanka. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Education to enforce the South Asian Qualifications Reference Framework in Sri Lanka jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment, was approved by the Cabinet.