Skill training is a working arm of the Engineering Division of NEHRP, functioning to provide skill training to beneficiaries and their dependents, in order to fill the gaps in shortage of skilled persons in NEHRP construction areas. This is operating in all Programme areas in Eight districts of Northern and Eastern provinces where reconstruction work is done.

Most of the infrastructure facilities and houses were damaged during this period. Prior to our programme various institutions like NECORD, NEIAP,  NGOs and INGOs were involved in rebuilding of infrastructure facilities and damages caused by Tsunami to housing etc. These absorbed what ever skilled labour which were available for their programs since these institution commenced their activities much earlier than NEHRP. Apart from this further with the displacement of population  foreign migration of skilled labour and high cost of hiring skilled workmen (Rs.1200/= to Rs.1500/= per day) made our programme to cosider of our own strategy to find skill workmen.  Thus the need for skill training to beneficiaries was felt.

Only option available to us was to train our requirements of skill workers. As NEHRP was not experienced in skill training activities, strategy adopted was to get the training done through authorized and experienced agencies. UNDP was approached in 2005 and they agreed to get the training done through Divisional Secretaries with the assistance of Vocational Training Authority and Department of Industries. During the process of implementation of training program these agencies took much time in producing the result as a result of this in 2006 NEHRP handled the training directly through agencies like WUSC, NYSC, BAJ, TECH, Department of Industries, Comtec, Sarvodaya, NAITA, etc. These institutions had their own staff, training centres and other facilities to provide the training.

These training programs are urban based and were not catering for our needs. They had the standard syllabus which was tailor made for urban requirements. Coordinators were appointed for skill training to organize the programs. Since these programs were also urban based and class room and lab oriented they were not suitable for our rural housing work although the services were utilized in suburban areas. They were reluctant to working in backward areas as a result of this NEHRP decided to train youths in Skills from rural areas itself

Originally the progress was slow and the programs were not matching the rapid nature of the construction program which was time bound. There was considerable progress in the work, trainees also participated in the construction program. Since the training was mostly done in urban based training centers, their ability to adopt to the construction environment in rural areas were inadequate. The traditional masons who were in charge of construction work were reluctant to accommodate the trainees this resulted in social problems during construction activities.

Taking all these into consideration NEHRP decided to train these youths in rural construction areas in a suitable manner. These programs are aimed to cater for illiterate beneficiaries and children in backward areas. The important factor in this program was minimum class room work with maximum on site work, here the beneficiaries learnt by doing skill construction work. This strategy included the following

1. The training was adopted to suit the educational levels of beneficiaries by having participatory learning process in the field with less class room training.
2. On site training for beneficiaries in construction sites
3. Follow up working opportunities in program areas after training
4. Modification of the training program to suite the village and NEHRP requirements
5. Appointing separate Technical officers who were trained in skill training to coordinate the programs
6. Training of traditional craftsmen on NEHRP objectives, principles, implementation strategy involved in NEHRP housing construction
7. Having pilot training programs in aluminum fabrication, electrical wiring and plumbing in Jaffna District, These training programs are implemented in Phase IV program and results have been very encouraging,
8. 
   a. Beneficiaries of Skill Training
   • Beneficiary selectees or their family members
   • Unemployed youth in programme areas
   • Unskilled construction workers in programmme areas
   b. Characteristics of trainees
   • Unemployed or under employed
   • Have no employment opportunities
   • From War affected and vulnerable families
   • Work as laborers on daily wage basis
   • High illiteracy rate
   • Belong to beneficiaries family

   c. Stake Holders

   • World Bank
   • Europea Commision
   • Government of Sri Lanka
   • North East Housing Reconstruction Programme
   • District & Divisional Administration
   • NGOs
   • CBOs
   • Beneficiaries and Families
   • Semi skill workers
   • Carpentary & Masonary trainees