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| Sunday, 29 May 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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In a democratic set up : People free to maintain private universities Professor Ranjith Ruberu, Emeritus Professor of Education University of Colombo Currently, there is much public discussion on the issue Privately Managed Universities in Sri Lanka. Arguments in favour as well as against the establishment of university level institutions outside the State System are evident. Until the more recent past university education in Sri Lanka happened to be a State responsibility provided by the Ministry of Education and later, the Ministry of Higher Education, as an integral component of the Free Education system that commenced in the early 1940s. The universities and other institutions of higher education were owned and managed by the government, under several ministries financing them and at no cost to the students. Of late however the situation appears to be changing with the private sector getting involved in the provision of higher education. Several privately managed higher education establishments are already functioning in the country. Some of these institutions come directly under a particular ministry, while some others appear to be entirely under private management with no partnership with any government ministry. In a country where higher education had been a responsibility of the government, this deviation from the usual pattern has caused public concern making it a controversial issue. The time is now opportune to look into this issue in a rational manner taking into account the benefits as well as disadvantages of sole State management of higher education establishments. When the ownership and the management of higher education systems including universities in other countries is considered, it becomes clear that both State monopoly and private responsibility are permitted to varying degree and at times leading to partnership as well. This happens on the basis of the higher education policies these countries pursue. In a majority of totalitarian states higher education is considered a State monopoly that result in a State owned and State managed higher education system. The former USSR and the People's Republic of China for example had state owned universities and institutions of higher education owned and managed by the State. This practice however, of late has shown signs of change in favour of shared responsibility between the State and the private sector and sometimes the State relegating such responsibility to private authorities. It is with regard to universities that public concern on management is more evident than for non-university higher education establishment for the reason that universities are degree awarding institutions and the degrees awarded need uniformity regarding quality and standards. Universities other than those in dictatorial countries are considered to be independent, and autonomous establishments by tradition managing their own affairs with no outside influence whatsoever. As a rule they are committed to policies defined by the authorities responsible for their management. Currently in Sri Lanka, the University Grants Committee (UGC) is the recognised authority for guiding the universities as far as the management and administration of these establishment in accordance with State polices. There happened to be a time many years back before the establishment of the University Grants Commission (UGC) when the universities had the freedom of managing themselves and their affairs independently. This led to irregularities which at times were even damaging the very existence of the system. As a result, the universities at the time were subjected to mismanagement incurring waste of State funds allocated to them with no restriction. The establishment of the UGC for the maintenance and administration of universities in 1971 remedied the situation to a significant extent. The UGC as defined in the University Act of 1971 is empowered with the duty of "considering the national needs for university education and to take in consultation with the universities all such steps as it may think fit for the promotion of and co-ordination of university education and research, for the determination and maintenance of standards of teaching, examination in the universities" The Minister of Education is empowered to establish a new university for the purpose of providing, promoting, and developing higher education in accordance with the provisions in the University Act of 1971. What is relevant here is that the University Act 1971 makes no provision for the establishment of privately managed universities independent of the UGC. The dispute today is on the establishment of Private Universities in a system where State managed universities dominate. State universities provide free education with no financial commitment to students. Private universities when established are not in a position to impart free education and are therefore compelled to be fee levying institutions affordable only to students who are able to pay the required fees and meet any other expenses involved in attending them. This need not be irregular in a system where privately managed schools levying fees exist along with the schools in the free education system. The only possible danger could be the exploitation of students by unscrupulous managers who are prone to make these establishments profit making business concerns rather than service oriented establishments. Private universities once established are liable to yield to such situations that cannot be acceptable to the country and the people. If private universities are to justify their existence together with the State Universities the activities of private universities need careful scrutiny by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education will have the responsibility of supervising them and guiding them and even defying them when such needs arise. The appointment of teaching staff in particular, and the provision of facilities such as laboratories, workshops, etc. are some areas that will require the consideration of the administration. Private universities subjected to such surveillance could be considered in equal position with the State institutions. The establishment of private universities cannot be discouraged in a democratic set up. Sri Lanka having a democratic government and being a democracy the freedom to establish and maintain private universities is a privilege of the people. In the same manner private enterprise has been accepted and private enterprise is evident in every public activity. Private universities in the educational system play a significant role in the promotion of national education. Private universities as long as they provide quality education, having acceptable standards and fool proof management deserve a legitimate right to be in partnership with the country's university system.
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