Varsities, no longer a JVP hotbed - Minister S.B. Dissanayake

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

The prevailing atmosphere in universities has become a key topic owing to recent incidents in several universities. The Sunday Observer interviewed Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake to ascertain the initiatives taken by his Ministry to ensure a free environment for the students to continue their studies.

The Minister said the Government has no intention whatsoever to “hunt down” university students as alleged or chase them away from universities. The Ministry will only take disciplinary or legal action against those involved in various unlawful activities to disrupt university education.

Q: Student unrest in universities has become a hot news topic. Who or what organisations are behind these activities?

A: Actually there is no student unrest in universities. Students continue their studies with dedication. During the past few years, a group of students less than even one percent of the total number of students, in universities has been trying to impose their will on the administration of universities and hostels. They had even threatened Vice Chancellors and Deans of the faculties. At present the group has faced a severe problem because the majority of the students are protesting their unruly behaviour. Except for a few students who represent the JVP, all other students continue their studies as usual with a sense of satisfaction. In some universities, these JVP students assault and ill-treat other students. They assaulted the students at Peradeniya, Katubedda, Wayamba and Sabaragamuwa universities. A group of JVP-backed students assaulted the Ruhuna University Vice Chancellor and several students as well.

The majority of the university students who had given in to the pressure of a few JVP students over the past 12 years, have now countered their influence. As a result, the JVP backed student group has found it difficult to continue their “campaign of suppression” in universities any longer. This is the problem in the universities. There is no student unrest as such in universities.

Q: What action is being taken against these unruly elements to make the atmosphere in universities more conducive to students continuing their studies?

A: During the past 12 years, the JVP students did not allow elections to be held in universities. They harassed and ragged the freshers in an inhuman manner. They also attempted to do likewise this year. But this time, we prevented most of those inhuman acts being committed by these JVP student groups. We have completely stopped such unruly behaviour at the Sri Jayewardenepura University and in the Engineering Faculty of Katubedda University and Medical Faculty of Peradeniya University. Certain incidents took place at the Engineering Faculty of the Peradeniya University. We hope to stop such trends in the universities next year.

The JVP-backed student group had imposed various restrictions on the first year students. They had forced the first year female students to wear cheeththaya and rubber slippers and banned shoes for first year male students. They had also threatened the first year students to avoid going to libraries, talking to lecturers and taking part in sports and engage in extracurricular activities.

Restrictions removed

Now we have removed all these restrictions. At present students are breaking these barriers. Therefore, the JVP backed student group who had unleashed a campaign of suppression and violence in universities has now commenced to assault students who oppose their unruly behaviour. We have decided to suspend the classes and take disciplinary action against students who are involved in unlawful activities. Following the complaints to the Police, some students who were involved in the clashes were arrested. Legal action will be taken against those students who are now in custody. The situation in the universities has been improved to nearly 90 percent at present.

Q: It is alleged that some student union leaders are no longer university students. What action can be taken against them?

A: The JVP has sent outside students to each university to handle the situation in that particular university. Some of them are JVP students who have left the universities and others never attended a university at all. We have received information that some of the JVP students had gained university admission through impersonation. Earlier it was these outsiders who “governed” the universities. Now we are getting rid of such elements systematically.

Q: What is the aim of those who create trouble in the universities?

A: At present the JVP students group has not been able to continue their “suppression campaign” in hostels and drive away the students who oppose their views. Earlier most of the university hostels had been converted to JVP camps. These university hostels were JVP breeding grounds. Today the JVP is loosing ground. They find themselves in a situation in which they have to launch their final battle! The JVP students brutally assaulted the students who did not fall in line with them. We are taking stern action against outsiders who occupy hostels by force to promote thuggery and other unlawful acts in universities. In the past two years, the female students’ hostel at the Kelaniya University had been forcibly occupied by male students. Even the university administration had to give in due to the influence of the JVP students. Finally we sought a Court order to remove those male students from that hostel.

Q: How can the authorities ensure discipline in universities?

A: The university administration will suspend the classes and take disciplinary action against those who resort to unlawful activities. The university authorities will get the Police to deal with the incidents of assault or harassment of students. No disciplinary action was taken against the unruly students in the past and as such they did what they wanted!

The clash at the Ruhuna University erupted following an assault on Science Faculty students. They were attacked as they did not join the JVP students’ union. One student group had attempted to stage a drama in the university. The Vice Chancellor had informed them that he would also participate in it and called upon them to fill the relevant application form before the drama was staged. The students refused to comply with it. The assistance of the Police was sought and the drama was not held. The student group posed death threats to the Vice Chancellor. The Ministry would not hesitate to take stern action against the students who create chaos to disrupt university education.

Q: What are the main shortcomings at universities including hostel facilities and what are your plans to rectify them?

A: In addition to the financial provision by the Government, we have received aid from countries such as Austria, India, Kuwait and the World Bank. We have already launched construction work of buildings in all universities with these funds. We are not in a position to overcome the hostel problem in universities immediately. If a university has the capacity to admit 13,000 or 14,000 students annually, nearly 22,000 students will be enrolled to provide more higher education opportunities to the students. We can reduce the intake of students and provide hostel and other facilities to the students. Amidst various hardships, our aim is to provide higher education opportunities to the students. It will take another seven or eight years to provide solutions to problems in the university system. At the same time, steps will be taken to increase the intake of students to universities. That is why we have decided to grant permission to set up international universities in Sri Lanka.

Q: The Government is planning to upgrade several universities to international level. What is the progress up to now?

A: We hope to upgrade each university to international level. Initially it would be easy for us to bring major universities to that level. Steps have also been taken to develop the Eastern University with Kuwaiti funds while plans are being formulated to develop the Jaffna University with Indian funds. Initiatives have been taken to develop training courses and upgrade the facilities in each university with World Bank funds.

Q: What is the progress in the scheme to set up private universities, probably with foreign collaboration?

A: At present 78 foreign universities have registered in Sri Lanka. Over 50 of them have commenced operations. Nearly 30 such institutions are operating in the country. Some of these institutions maintain a very high standard while others have failed to reach the standard. Our policy is to set up 15 or 20 internationally recognised universities in Sri Lanka.

Foreign universities

The Government through the establishment of these foreign universities intends to achieve several objectives. This would help strengthen our free education system as each university would offer 20 percent scholarships to our students.

By this move we hope to stop the brain-drain. Nearly 8,000 students go to various foreign countries annually to follow their degrees, Masters and PhDs. But they don’t return to our country. A large number of professors and lecturers produced by our universities is also teaching in foreign universities.

These Sri Lankan professors and lecturers have taken a great interest to set up international universities in Sri Lanka. When international universities are set up in Sri Lanka, opportunities would be provided to the professors and lecturers of Government universities to teach in such international universities on a visiting basis.

That would help improve their income as well. Similarly opportunity will also be provided to foreign professors and lecturers to teach in Government universities on visiting basis. That would facilitate to upgrade the ranking of our universities. A sum of Rs. 20,000 - Rs. 25,000 million is lost to the country annually when nearly 8,000 local students go to foreign countries for their higher studies. If foreign universities are established here, a huge amount of valuable foreign exchange could be saved.

A new middle class is emerging today in Asia. The children of this new middle class want to go out of their countries to pursue their higher education. But they don’t have enough money to go to Australia, England or America. Therefore, they are looking for the nearest country to continue their higher education to cut down the cost. If international universities are established in Sri Lanka, a large number of Asian students will come to Sri Lanka. That would generate a lot of foreign exchange earning so that it can be used to further strengthen the free education system in Sri Lanka.

Q: Do you have any plans to increase the intake of students to universities and introduce more subject streams/degree courses?

A: We have already commenced this. Steps have already been taken to introduce new degree courses and update the existing courses in keeping with the present trends in the job market.

A decision has been taken to teach Chartered Accountancy, CIMA and IT to students who follow Arts subjects. The Ministry has decided to conduct all degree courses in the English medium from next year. Then it would be easier for the students to gain employment.

Q: Is there an increase in this year’s budgetary allocation for higher education, including universities? In other words, how much does the Government spend on average on a university student?

A: This year the Government did not increase its budgetary allocation as the Ministry has received Rs. 5,000 million under a World Bank project. Several countries such as India, Kuwait, Iraq and Austria have also pledged financial assistance. Therefore, the Higher Education Ministry is equipped with enough funds compared to the past few years.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was personally involved to get the World Bank project going, in addition to Kuwait funds and financial assistance from India and Austria to develop the higher education sector. The Government spends nearly Rs. 260,000 annually for a university student.

Q: There is an increasing demand for at least a limited fee-levying structure for universities because there is a feeling that students don’t appreciate what is given free. Are the authorities contemplating any such move?

A: No. The President has clearly said that except for strengthening the free education system, the Government has no intention whatsoever to levy money from students for education. However, the President has decided to offer 150 scholarships to the Asian and other countries which help us. We have also decided to allow nearly five percent of qualified foreign students to gain admission to some faculties in our universities by paying fees. If we can increase this number to 15 percent, all expenses of the universities could be covered by these foreign students.

Q: There is an allegation that most students are not equipped with degrees and qualifications suited to the job market. What are your plans in this regard?

A: Some courses and degrees conducted by the universities do not suit the existing job market. If the students can follow the Management courses in the English medium, they have many employment opportunities in the job market. We have a dearth of IT graduates. We will formulate degree courses with new subjects so that the students can find employment.

Q: Do you think that the Ministry should take stern action against the students who resort to various unlawful activities rather than suspend their classes?

A: We have no intention to “hunt down” students and chase them away from the universities as alleged. Some university students have been misled by the false JVP propaganda. Students are dragged into various demonstrations and clashes.

Twenty-one students who were taken into custody when they attempted to enter the Higher Education Ministry by force, have sent me a letter seeking pardon. They have admitted that they were misled and had been forcibly taken for this protest. These students are helpless.

We will punish only the students who committed various unlawful activities in universities. If they give an undertaking that they would not resort to such activities again, an opportunity would be provided for them to continue their education.

Q: As the Higher Education Minister what is your message to the university students?

A: The Government will make a substantial change in the country’s higher education sector. The Government through the establishment of private universities would upgrade the standard of our universities to a higher level and strengthen the free education system.

We would not permit private universities to undermine our universities. Earlier, the hostels and universities were controlled by the JVP.

They didn’t allow elections to be held to elect members to Students’ Councils. In future we would not permit them to create such situations in universities. We will create an environment in the universities where each student can conduct his studies freely and contest any Students’ Council election. If students clash with the university administration due to misleading propaganda launched by the JVP, they will be punished.

The JVP is bent on disrupting the education of university students. They attempt to drag them out from the lecture halls and take them to the streets by giving them a till. I call upon the students not to yield to such undue pressure and darken their future. The students should be determined to complete their studies by becoming a “universal child”. Our policy is to make our graduates “universal graduates”