The case for private universities

By Pramod DE SILVA

There is a raging debate in the media and in civil society on the proposed establishment of private universities, perhaps as early as next year. Sri Lanka prides itself on its free education system which enables students to receive education free, from Grade One to beyond the university degree level.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake

Whatever the detractors say, Sri Lanka already does have a vibrant private education sector. In addition to the established private schools, there are many international schools, tuition classes and higher educational institutions affiliated to foreign institutes and universities. There has been no protest regarding the operation of these institutions from any quarter.

Complementary role

Private universities, it seems, will take it just one step forward. Some of the world’s best universities are privately run ones and there is no reason why it cannot happen here as well.

There is fundamentally no reason why university students or others should fear the establishment of private universities. There is no doubt that they will co-exist with State universities and play a complementary role in the country’s education system.

What exactly is a private university ? The term “private” simply means that the university’s funding comes from tuition, investments and private donors, not from taxpayers. However, it does not mean that they are completely free from Government controls and regulations. Far from it, they are likely to be scrutinised for their conduct and performance.

It is ironic that university student leaders or firebrand politicians do not either acknowledge or conveniently ignore, the fact that thousands of Sri Lankan students go to foreign universities every year. No one has opposed that and with good reason too - it is a democratic right. But many fail to see another important factor in this scenario. It is called foreign exchange.

Foreign universities, especially those in the affluent West, often charge an enormous amount for tuition. A parent can typically look at a figure of Rs.5 million at least over four years. The high boarding fees and living expenses are extra. It basically means that millions of rupees in hard-earned foreign exchange go to other countries to fund our citizen’s education.

If we had one or two world-class private universities here, at least 50 percent of those students would opt to remain here and attend them. The resulting foreign exchange savings will be considerable.

We would even earn foreign exchange through a private university. Such a university could attract foreign students, especially from the SAARC region and the Middle East, with a competitive fee structure. Low living and lodging costs are another attraction for these students. It will also be possible to attract students worldwide with online courses.

A change in attitudes is essential before a private university is established. It would be wrong to assume that only the best students go to our universities and the rest are not worthy of university admission.

Thanks to a theory-based, rote-based education and examination system, there are many instances when really bright students end up on the wrong side of the fence.

They miss university by a whisker and are sometimes unable to find other educational opportunities or employment. A private university could fill this void, albeit at a cost. In other words, graduates of a private university would not necessarily be the intellectual misfits that university unions think they would be.

It will give an opportunity for students who cannot enter conventional universities to pursue their educational goals. Granted, this will cost money but it will still be much lower than the fees charged by universities abroad.

Safeguards can and should be established, as in the case of medical graduates from foreign universities who have to sit for an examination locally to qualify to work as doctors in Government hospitals. There should be a rational and viable basis for admission as well, so that, for example, someone who has failed the A/Ls cannot enter a private university.

Sri Lanka is really lagging behind, even in our region when it comes to private universities. A quick search on the Internet reveals that many countries have private universities or are in the process of allowing them. In Asia, private universities operate in Bangladesh, India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam, among others. Some of the best universities in the US and Europe are privately owned.

Proper management

The Bangladesh Parliament recently passed a bill providing detailed rules for establishing private universities, their proper management and expanding quality education in the country. This will replace the first Act passed in 1992. Some 215,000 students are studying at 54 private universities across Bangladesh.

This new Bill should be studied in depth by our higher education authorities, to look for any relevant lessons. The Bangladeshi Education Minister said the new law appeared necessary to ensure quality education in the private universities to create skilled manpower, which is a requirement here as well.

Another proposal in the new Bangladeshi Bill should be studied by our authorities led by Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake. This is the mandatory requirement of a ‘Minimum Reserve Fund’ of Taka 50 million in the name of a proposed private university. These funds could be used to develop higher education, especially State universities. Moreover, private universities are required to have all facilities including an adequate number of classrooms, library, laboratory, auditorium, seminar room, office room, student’s common room and other rooms and infrastructure.

Every private university must have a Board of Trustees, Syndicate, Academic Council, Faculty, Institute, Curriculum Committee, Finance Committee, Teacher Appointment Committee and Discipline Committee. Again, these laws will be relevant to our private university scenario. The Bangladeshi Bill also seeks controls on advertising by private universities, so that no misleading information reaches the students. Here too, we have seen education advertisements which virtually offer ‘miracles’ thus misleading parents and students. Private universities will have to be more transparent about what they are offering to students.

Worldwide, an expansion in private universities has been projected, as students face a shortage of places. In Sri Lanka too, thousands of deserving students do not get the opportunity to enter State universities as they fall short of a few marks. Private universities will offer them a new avenue for higher education.

Considering the proposals already in the air regarding private universities, it is commendable that only reputed institutions affiliated to well-known foreign universities would be allowed. This will reassure students and parents that they are getting a better deal for the funds they are investing on education.

It is also heartening to note that private universities will be required to grant a considerable number of scholarships to local students, probably those who had just missed the State university bus. This will also dilute the opposition stand against private universities from those who say that they will ‘lock out’ talented students. In any case, the private universities should have a competitive fee structure accessible to middle class students.

They could perhaps have a slightly higher fee structure for foreign students.

Private universities should also be required to offer courses that are different to those offered by State universities where possible. Granted, there are a few main fields that all universities worth their salt like to have in their prospectus, but they should find room for new, technology-oriented courses currently not offered by the Government-run universities. That will also minimise the duplication of courses at both types of institutions while addressing the concerns of the (private sector) employers. With all universities slated to offer courses in the English language, employers will receive another boon.

The debate on private universities will - and should - continue, so that the authorities can assess the views of all stakeholders and arrive at a suitable mechanism for their establishment and regulation. If properly instituted and regulated, it will be another feather in the cap in Sri Lanka’s highly successful education system, believed to be on par with the best in the world.