Photo: University students run as police fire tear gas during a protest in Colombo, Aug. 22, 2007. Thousands of students protested outside the President's residence against the Sri Lankan government's plans to introduce private universities.The Inter-University Students' Union on Tuesday warned that turning a deaf ear to students' demands would be the end of the government. Convener of the Inter-University Students' Union, Dumnida Nagamuwa, told a press conference that they would launch a massive struggle against the government's move to do away with the free education system of the country. "We will organize all students, Buddhist monks, and labourers against the government and take to the streets," he said. He said an ultimatum of one week is being given to the government to come up with an acceptable solution to the prevailing crisis in the education sector.
Nagamuwa claimed that Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, wept during a discussion and said he would resign from his post. "Isn't it shameful for a minister to weep openly?" he asked. He also criticized the Minister of Higher Education, Wishva Waranapala, for neglecting the burning issues in the higher education sector. The student leader claimed that a huge number of schools have been closed since 1997. He said an average of 65 schools have been closed down annually starting from 1997. He also charged that only 2.6% of the GDP has been allocated for education this year compared to 2.7% last year. This has been reducing from 1977 according to him.
Admitting foreign students to local universities also came under criticism of the students' union. The union claimed that foreign students were given the opportunity to earn the dancing diploma from the Faculty of Arts.
It charged that some private institutions were offering degrees at a fee of Rs 30,000 per month. The entire course fees for these degree program costs Rs 1.4 million according to the union. " Some claim that private institutions were set up for the middle class people but how can they afford such high fees?," he asked.
The union also claimed that government was making plans to register international schools with the Ministry. Currently they are registered under the Companies' Act. There are 95 international schools in the country in which over 110,000 schools children are taught.
Comment by: Dr. Mike Hernandez from Washington
Privatization of the university system is the best solution to raise the standards of education in Sri Lanka, the poor should be given an opportunity with merit based scholarships and government co-signed grants and loans at low interest rates, a government system of education based loans and grants should be available for all students, because a quality education is not free, so that higher wages could be paid to hire quality faculty and more funds for research and innovation.
Education should be universally accessible to all Sri Lankans of all ages , cast, creed and socioeconomic levels and all universities should be held accountable to higher standards with a rating system based on Research, funding and scholarly reputations.
The Marxist mentality of the students are simply ancient and not in tune with today’s high tech world, Adapt or be extinct is the motto around the world, especially in the US where universities compete vigorously with each other to increase their rankings for better students and faculty.
Nagamuwa claimed that Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, wept during a discussion and said he would resign from his post. "Isn't it shameful for a minister to weep openly?" he asked. He also criticized the Minister of Higher Education, Wishva Waranapala, for neglecting the burning issues in the higher education sector. The student leader claimed that a huge number of schools have been closed since 1997. He said an average of 65 schools have been closed down annually starting from 1997. He also charged that only 2.6% of the GDP has been allocated for education this year compared to 2.7% last year. This has been reducing from 1977 according to him.
Admitting foreign students to local universities also came under criticism of the students' union. The union claimed that foreign students were given the opportunity to earn the dancing diploma from the Faculty of Arts.
It charged that some private institutions were offering degrees at a fee of Rs 30,000 per month. The entire course fees for these degree program costs Rs 1.4 million according to the union. " Some claim that private institutions were set up for the middle class people but how can they afford such high fees?," he asked.
The union also claimed that government was making plans to register international schools with the Ministry. Currently they are registered under the Companies' Act. There are 95 international schools in the country in which over 110,000 schools children are taught.
Comment by: Dr. Mike Hernandez from Washington
Privatization of the university system is the best solution to raise the standards of education in Sri Lanka, the poor should be given an opportunity with merit based scholarships and government co-signed grants and loans at low interest rates, a government system of education based loans and grants should be available for all students, because a quality education is not free, so that higher wages could be paid to hire quality faculty and more funds for research and innovation.
Education should be universally accessible to all Sri Lankans of all ages , cast, creed and socioeconomic levels and all universities should be held accountable to higher standards with a rating system based on Research, funding and scholarly reputations.
The Marxist mentality of the students are simply ancient and not in tune with today’s high tech world, Adapt or be extinct is the motto around the world, especially in the US where universities compete vigorously with each other to increase their rankings for better students and faculty.
Post a Comment