Evolution of Career-Oriented Education and the Implementation Status of the 13-Year Guaranteed Education Programme (13YGEP): A Critical Review

In Sri Lanka, a considerable proportion of students do not meet the academic requirements necessary for further education following the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination, resulting in early school dropouts. To address this issue, the Ministry of Education introduced Circular No. 37/2017, establishing the Thirteen-Year Guaranteed Education Programme (13YGEP). This initiative aims to retain students who are unable to transition to senior secondary education by providing an additional two years of schooling focused on skill development and career readiness. The programme seeks to enhance students’ employability and access to diverse professional opportunities both locally and internationally. Implemented in 2017, the vocational stream within the 13YGEP represents a significant expansion of the national curriculum. This study conducts a review of literature on the 13YGEP implementation in Sri Lankan government schools. The objectives include examining the historical evolution of career oriented over past curriculum reforms, synthesizing prior research, analyzing key findings, and identifying knowledge gaps requiring further exploration. A narrative literature review methodology is employed, drawing upon academic sources related to vocational education. A qualitative approach, incorporating thematic analysis, is utilized to examine these studies. The findings highlight the importance of integrating vocational education into school curricula and offer insights into its practical implementation. Additionally, the review underscores the need for further research into expert and stakeholder perspectives and the expansion of vocational subject streams. Identifying effective implementation strategies remains essential for bridging the gap between current research and future educational research.