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| Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
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Before a fall! by Nisansala Aryachandra Most of our young days are spent in school. It is a time to learn, understand and apply (more about the outside world than anything else, you practice applying your judgement about people at this point, rest assured you will never go wrong). After years of what seems like 'very hard labour' we go through our first acid test - O'Levels, and now, rather than generalising let me enlighten you about what I have learnt in my school life. Well, to abbreviate a long story, I just 'didn't feel like' abating myself any more to the long array of 'tests' that holds no relevance (in my opinion) to future aspirations. And so, I opted to embark on the road of higher education right after my O'Levels, with the encouragement of my parents (always). In time, I made my mark at the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL). Not to discourage any of the schooling youth, but honestly, I wish our school system would dedicates a compulsory subject on "When and How to use school education" later in life, because as of now, I am still waiting! It is a very well-known fact that our schools don't vocationally prepare us for our future. Young people are clueless and without direction after their O'Levels or A'Levels. Although, measures are introduced and some implemented to address this issue, little or nothing tangible has happened. To constructively address this issue, we need to make available career guidance literature and easily accessible resource centres for young people to acquire the necessary information and advice they need to pursue a career of choice. Rather than being 'one' from the majority in our society who are brilliant 'preachers', let me be my humble self and do something that may seem a little alien to my fellow countrymen - initiate. First, I would like to say although there is a rigid process in which you must follow to enrol yourself into a university in Sri Lanka, the OUSL is the exception, because it enables students to pursue higher education by what is called distance education methods and flexible study techniques. It has over the years, since its establishment in 1980 proved to be the only socially equitable higher education system in Sri Lanka. Another unique feature is that it provides educational opportunities to anyone aged 18 and above. However, "some programmes have minimum entry requirements but exemptions are given to approved qualifications, which are recognised by the Senate. Successful completion of any Foundation Programme of two years duration offered by the Faculties to anyone without formal qualifications as an alternative to GCE A/L examination will enable them to register for a programme in the respective Faculty", state the STM, 2003 June issue by K.H. Wanigasundera, Senior Consultant/Public Relations, OUSL. With regard to study programmes, it offers a range of about 45 programmes and over 900 courses in a variety of subjects. As the certificates and awards are accepted locally and internationally the recognition aspects are well assured too. With over 21,000 students and about 80 per cent of them employed and about 60 per cent within the age group of 18-30 the OUSL is one of the 13 National Universities of Sri Lanka. The central campus is at Nawala with three other Regional Centres in Jaffna, Kandy and Matara. Applications are issued for the programmes through newspaper advertisements. Having stated all the above, a little bit of my mind (not advice) for our youth. It is useless, even to have a storehouse of knowledge opened up, if we do not want to help ourselves. Because no matter what, there is a time in a person's life that you must tread on your path, alone. That point in life is inevitable, so is it not a far better way to tread on that path on and off when you have your family and loved ones around you, so that even if you stumble, you will never fall! |
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