Sri Lanka an education hub in Asia soon – Minister Dissanayake
By Uditha Kumarasinghe
* Students will not be deprived of free
education
* Stop ragging and other harassment faced by
students in universities
* No intention to levy a fee from students
in State universities
*Establishment of foreign universities will
not have adverse effect on free education
Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said the Government will
never deprive students of free education in State universities. The
Government has no intention to levy a fee from students who study at
State universities. The Minister in an interview with the Sunday
Observer said State universities will provide opportunity to students to
display their talent and enter universities on merit.
The Minister said in Sri Lanka, tertiary education,and education at
advanced technological institutes and vocational training institutes are
given free.
It is not correct to compare free education given in a country like
Sri Lanka with other countries which levy a fee for education.
Minister Dissanayake said the establishment of foreign universities
will not have an adverse effect on free education or State universities
as highlighted by certain sections of the people. This same argument was
put forward when international schools were opening up in Sri Lanka.
Certain sections attempted to portray that the setting up of
international schools would be the downfall of key government-schools of
the likes of Ananda, Nalanda, Royal, Visakha and Devi Balika. In fact
after the setting up of international schools, State schools vastly
improved. Even today standards at these Government schools are far above
international schools.
The Minister said at present the majority of university teachers are
doing well in universities. Such teachers, professors and senior
lecturers have joined hands with the university administration to ensure
discipline among students and develop the university system.
They don’t resort to strikes. They love the university, their
students and the country. I would like to call upon those clamouring for
salary increases and other privileges also to intervene to stop ragging
and other harassment faced by students in universities.
****
Q:According to you what is the significance of Budget 2012?
Has it introduced any future vision to take the country forward?
A: Budget 2012 is based on a scientific and methodical plan.
The Budget has touched every aspect while it has increased subsidies
and welfare measures given to low income groups. The Budget has also
increased the allowance given to disabled including disabled war heroes.
The Government is continuing the fertiliser subsidy by allocating
Rs.40 billion. It has increased subsidies given to minor exports and
agriculture.
The allowance given for the re-cultivation of coconut, tea, cinnamon
and pepper has also been increased. Incentives have been given to those
engaged in traditional industries to develop their industries. Funds
have been allocated to develop the fisheries sector. Credit facilities
to small scale factory owners and tax has been exempted for machinery
and equipment for them.
Protection for medium and large scale businessmen has also been
provided.
A series of fresh proposals to develop higher education and tourism
sectors has also been included. Steps have been taken to safeguard money
sent by expatriate workers. A pay hike has been given to public servants
including pensioners. The Budget has laid emphasis starting from the
poorest to large scale businessmen.
It has introduced separate projects to provide housing, electricity
and to develop infrastructure facilities. I believe we would be able to
carpet the remaining major roads and to provide electricity to all
households by the end of next year. Shanty dwellers in Colombo city will
be resettled in condominiums. A series of development activities are
also in progress to beautify and make the entire country clean.
Measures have been taken to develop the aviation sector. SriLankan
Airlines and Mihin Lanka are running at a loss, this is correct, we are
infants competing with leading airlines in the world. Profit cannot be
made as soon as we begin an airline service. It will take some time to
achieve an enviable position in this field. That is why Mihin Air has
started to fly to several countries by offering concessionary rates to
passengers.
The government has formed a strong airline with a fleet of 30
aircraft today due to the clear vision and target set out by president
Mahinda Rajapaksa. This Budget has allocated funds to establish domestic
airports in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Galle, Jaffna and Kilinochchi. The
Government has already started a sea plane service as well. The tourism
industry has achieved tremendous growth. The Budget is a well-planned
one targeting development.
Q: Are you satisfied with budgetary allocations made for
higher education?
A: Definitely. During the debate on the Higher Education
Ministry votes, some Opposition MPs submitted various statistics about
financial allocations made for higher education in countries like
Singapore, India, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. But these MPs
should be aware that all these countries levy a fee for higher
education. In Sri Lanka, education at universities, advanced
technological institutes and vocational training institutes are given
free.
In addition, Mahapola scholarships are also given to university
students and those who study in technological institutes.
They should not compare the hundred percent free education given in a
country like Sri Lanka with other countries where a fee is levied. The
Government will never deprive students of free education.
It has no intention whatsoever to levy a fee from students who study
at State universities.
State universities will allow students to display their talent and
enter universities by obtaining the best marks.
Foreign students should also be enrolled to State universities.
Universities have been given permission to recruit five percent foreign
students for 2012. Universities have the capacity to recruit nearly
1,000 foreign students. If 10 percent foreign students are recruited,
recurrent expenditure of universities can be covered.
We know we would not be able to enrol even five percent foreign
students to universities as the quality of courses not upto the mark
when compared to international ranking of universities.
This is our target. We have decided to offer 100 scholarships to
foreign students. To upgrade the international ranking of universities,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the previous Budget pledged to provide
Rs. 3 billion in three years. Rs.1 billion was granted last year and was
allocated to six universities.
We will get another Rs.1 billion this year and the balance Rs.1
billion will be given next year. Our intention is to systematically turn
Sri Lanka into a key educational hub in the Asian region.
Q: What is the present position regarding the establishment of
foreign universities?
A: A large number of foreign universities are ready to come to
Sri Lanka. Some of them are now arriving.
These universities are going to bring lot of foreign students to Sri
Lanka. Manipal University, India intends to bring nearly 80 percent
foreign students. Another two or three Indian universities are due to
come here.
A leading Australian university has already commenced educational
activities here.
Several other foreign universities are waiting until the Non-State
University Council Act is introduced.
We have already completed the formulation of this Act and it will be
presented to Parliament soon after the Budget.
After this Act is introduced, a separate council will be formed for
accreditation and monitoring of non-State universities.
Necessary steps will be taken to maintain the quality of all the
offshore universities, affiliated universities and other institutions
which conduct joint university programs here.
As we are aware, there are some places which offer diplomas within
one or two months and give higher diplomas within three or six months.
Some of them offer degrees within a year.
They cannot be allowed to do so.
According to the qualification framework formulated by the Ministry,
it has clearly mentioned the number of credits and hours required for
the diploma, higher diploma, degree and postgraduate degree.
All these foreign universities and other affiliated institutions
should be conducted in accordance with this qualification framework.
Steps will be taken to close educational institutions which are not able
to maintain this standard.
Some students in Sri Lanka go to foreign universities for higher
studies. They are fabulously rich and would definitely go abroad for
higher studies. But some of them who go to foreign countries for higher
studies have not even passed the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination. Even
if they go abroad, they do not study.
They end up with a photograph wearing a graduate’s cloak. There are
graduates of this calibre in our Parliament as well. This has become a
fashion among certain people in the upper segment of society and is now
a social status. However, this percentage is very low.
Some others go to foreign countries for higher studies with a lot of
hardship.
After they go abroad, some students do various part time jobs to
continue with their education.
There is another group of students who have no ability to go to
European countries instead, they go to Bangladesh, Pakistan or Nepal for
higher studies. The per capita income of these countries are lower than
Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka when 150,000 students are qualified at the
G.C.E. Advanced Level, only 22,000 are enrolled in universities. Can we
say that all these students should be enrolled in State universities.
Has it been done anywhere in the world? Even these 22,000 students
are enrolled to State universities with a lot of problems. When
non-State universities are established, 20 percent of Sri Lankan
students will be selected by the University Grants Commission (UGC)
under the Z score system. This would provide the opportunity for 20
percent Sri Lankan students to enrol in higher studies in these offshore
universities, foreign universities and private universities.
Q: The Opposition claims that unlike foreign universities to
be set up in Sri Lanka, most of the universities in countries like the
UK have not been set up with the intention of profit making and are
functioning under a trust. How do you respond to this?
A: Those days some of our schools like Ananda, Nalanda, S.
Thomas’ and Trinity were also established by religious organisations.
Foreign universities such as Oxford and Cambridge were based on this
principle.
Harvard was established with the personnel wealth of a philanthropist
called Harvard and later converted into a trust.
The Malabe Medical College set up by Dr. Neville Fernando also
functions under a trust.
All private universities and other advanced technological institutes
commenced in recent times have been set up jointly by academics and
businessmen.
That is not wrong. It has become an industry, but they don’t exploit
students as certain sections claim. Today education has turned into a
competitive industry and is not in the same position it was a 100 years
ago. 97,000 foreign students are studying in Singapore.
Foreign students have become the third biggest revenue in Australia.
More than 60 percent of students studying in Australian universities
like Monash and Melbourne universities are foreign students.
If steps are taken to develop our universities, we would also be able
to invite foreign students to State universities.
This would be vital for the country’s economy. It would also open
avenues to Sri Lankan students to enter these foreign universities under
the Z score system.
Those who go to foreign countries for higher studies would be able to
study here by paying a lesser amount of money compared to the large
amount of money they pay in those countries.
The total amount of money paid by a medical student to the Malabe
Medical College for five years has to be spent for one year of study in
America. We are going to start a series of engineering courses in the
near future.
At present the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT)
which is a state-owned institution is making profits. Our intention is
to broaden free education opportunities and further develop State
universities so as to ensure free education benefits.
We should produce a graduate who has a demand. A graduate should pass
out from a university with a good personality, leadership skills and
positive attitudes to take over any responsibility.
As instructed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we hope to reduce 53
percent Liberal Arts to 20 percent, increase 22 percent Science to 50
percent and bring the 25 percent Management to 30 percent within the
university education system.
We have made it clear to university teachers, professors and Vice
Chancellors that after a graduate passes out from a university, if he or
she cannot find a job, the university should be held responsible.
The Higher Education Ministry, UGC and I have already taken over this
responsibility and we call upon universities to take this responsibility
and work out a plan to put out employable graduates.
This same argument was put forward when international schools were
going to start in Sri Lanka.
Certain sections said establishment of international schools would
lead to the downfall of government schools like Ananda, Nalanda, Royal,
Visakha and Devi Balika.
What happened? These schools developed even more. Aren’t these
government schools above the standard of international schools? In
addition this same argument was applied when private banks and foreign
banks commenced here. But the establishment of private banks led to a
complete change in the outlook of State banks, by turning them into more
efficient and competitive business ventures. Universities such as
Peradeniya, Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura, Kelaniya, Katubedda and Jaffna
are giant universities.
Wayamba, Rajarata , Eastern, Sabaragamuwa and Oluvil universities are
emerging as giants. If an affiliated foreign university or offshore
university is established in Sri Lanka, local universities will not
collapse. State universities will definitely emerge being competitive.
Q: What is your comment on the prevailing situation in
universities? What action has been taken to ensure discipline?
A: During the past 30 years, universities were controlled by
students. We can recall how the JVP resorted to killing Vice
Chancellors, professors and students during the 1988 and 1989 period.
They deprived even the voting rights of university students.
At university elections those days, 10 or 15 student groups contested
these elections. After 1989, the right to contest at these elections was
stopped by force due to the influence of the JVP-led student groups.
However, we broke this monopoly created by the JVP. At present,
university administration has been vested with Vice Chancellors, the
Senate and the University Council. University teachers should take the
responsibility now.
I am not happy with the move taken by university teachers demanding
for a pay hike.
I would like to ask, has even a single university teacher come
forward to ensure discipline of university students within universities?
Do they extend support to vice Chancellors to stop ragging in
universities? At present inhuman ragging is bring carried out within the
Peradeniya university. Instead of making a huge cry to increase
salaries, who are the university teachers helping Vice Chancellors to
ensure discipline and stop ragging? Even today, anti-rag students are
not permitted to go to the canteen or to watch a drama at the open air
theatre of the Peradeniya university. These anti-rag students have been
prevented from going to the library and they do not even have hostel
facilities.
Why hasn’t even a single university teacher come forward and said
accommodation should be given to these students who oppose ragging?
There is a group of university teachers who have dedicated and criticise
these activities.
There are some university teachers who speak about salaries but do
not even work even an hour per month.
I would like to say that a majority of university teachers are doing
well. Such university teachers, professors and senior lecturers have
joined hands with the university administration to ensure discipline
among students and to develop the university system.
They don’t resort to strikes. They love the university, their
students and the country. I would like to call upon those who always
clamour for salary increases and other privileges also to intervene to
stop ragging.
The anti-rag students of Peradeniya University are not even allowed
to appear for the batch photograph. Even with regard to the recent
ragging faced by a student, the teachers of the Peradeniya University
should have done something to ensure discipline.
Q: Various complaints are made on the deterioration of
discipline among Bhikku students who study in universities specially at
the Buddhashrawaka Dhamma Pithaya, Anuradhapura and Buddhist and Pali
University, Homagama. Is there any truth in these complaints?
A: Discipline among Bhikku students who study at
“Buddhasharawaka Dhamma Pithaya”, Anuradhapura has deteriorated.
All teachers suspended classes for nearly 200 Bhikku students.
Now, the situation within this university is under control. But a
very dangerous trend is developing within the Buddhist and Pali
University at Homagama. Nearly 80 percent of Bhikkus who passed out from
this university have disrobed.
These Bhikkus had assaulted lay students thinking that they would
expose the situation. Some of these assaulted students had been
hospitalised.
this situation should change.
This university is controlled by a few Bhikku students and they
should not be allowed to do so. The Bhikku students of the Inter
University Students Federation who resort to this unruly behaviour
within the university should be punished.
Compelling innocent Bhikku students to this kind of behaviour is a
crime. Because these innocent Bhikku Students are sent to universities
by Chief Incumbents with the intention of producing erudite Bhikkus. But
a group of unruly Bhikku students compel innocent members to disrobe.
Over one hundred foreign Bhikkus are studying at this university.
Nearly 90 percent of Bhikku students want to change the present
situation. This is only an attempt made by 25 or 30 Bhikku students to
disrupt education in the university. We should convert these
universities into genuine Buddhist educational institutions. The attempt
made by 25 or 30 unruly Bhikkus to govern Anuradhapura and Homagama
universities should be stopped immediately.
Q: Do you think there is an organised attempt behind the
recent incidents to disrupt education in universities?
A: Earlier the JVP was behind these incidents. Now it is only
the JVP’s radical group which is behind this.
That is why some students of Vidyalankara university suffered stab
injuries while another student of the Anuradhapura university had also
faced a similar situation. This shows the violent nature of this radical
student group. But we should put an end to this violent culture
unleashed by student groups in universities. The support of university
teachers is essential to overcome this situation.
I saw a group of teachers of the Arts Faculty of Peradeniya
university formulating a massive report highlighting that leadership
training as being a violation of the university Act and that it has
become a severe problem to university autonomy. I would like to ask from
these teachers whether they are aware of the harassment faced by the
anti-rag students at Peradeniya university? Everyday these anti-rag
students take their meals sitting on the floor of Senate House as they
are not allowed to go to the canteen.
Those who talk about various theories in accordance with the
University Act, do not see these inhuman acts taking place in
universities.
What action have they taken regarding the recent ragging incident
which took place in Peradeniya university? Some universities are
‘governed’ by extremist student groups trained by the JVP.
If an anti-rag student can’t stay in a hostel at Peradeniya
university, what action has been taken on their behalf by these
university teachers who talk about autonomy? Hundreds of innocent and
poor children have been deprived of their right to stay in hostels as
they do not agree with ragging.
What steps have been taken by these teachers to develop the mental
and physical fitness of university students? When we introduce some
program to address this issue, some university teachers build various
arguments saying it is a violation of certain clauses of the University
Act.
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