Applications have been called for admission to Grade 12 of the Advanced Level Vocational Stream for the 2026/2027 academic year, according to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
The Ministry stated that results of the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination are not required for admission to this stream. Students who sat the Ordinary Level examination in 2025 (2026) or within the past three years are eligible to apply to schools that conduct the vocational stream in their respective areas.
Students admitted to Grade 12 will follow modules designed to develop soft skills and introduce vocational fields, while in Grade 13 they will be referred by their schools to a government vocational training institute to obtain a National Vocational Qualification Level 4 certification. The training includes both institution-based learning and workplace training.
The programme offers training opportunities in several fields including tourism and hospitality, automotive technology, information technology, health and care services, gem and jewellery technology, beauty culture, arts and crafts, food production, apparel studies, electrical and electronic technology, metal processing, welding, construction, interior decoration, landscaping, agriculture, aquatic resources technology, sports, lifesaving and diving, sales, and logistics.
Students who successfully complete the programme and finish their school education will receive the NVQ Level 4 certificate, enabling them to pursue employment, higher education, or entrepreneurship opportunities.
Application forms, the list of schools offering the vocational stream, and details of available vocational fields are published under Special Notices on the official website of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.
The Ministry stated that the programme is implemented with the aim of ensuring thirteen years of education for all students, regardless of whether they pass or fail the Ordinary Level examination. Further information can be obtained through the Ministry’s Education for All Branch or via its official website www.moe.gov.lk
