Lalin Fernandopulle reports for Observer Online
Providing more higher educational opportunities for Sri Lankan students will help save the drain of valuable foreign exchange and enhance professionalism in the country, Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education, Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne told the Observer Online today.
He said around 10,000 Sri Lankan students go abroad to obtain higher educational qualifications every year and this has been estimated to cost nearly Rs. 12 billion to the country an year. “Setting up more non-state universities will provide additional avenues for students to pursue higher education and save money on exorbitantly high overseas education”, Dr. Nawaratne said.
Setting up non state universities have come under strong criticism by the JVP and certain university student fractions as a move to privatise the university and free education in the country and give priority to students of the affluent class in seeking jobs. Dr. Nawaratne said encouraging foreign universities to set up universities will enable more youth to obtain higher educational qualifications at an affordable cost.
“Through more universities we hope to increase the university intake to 50,000 from the current 22,000 annually”, he said. Free education in the country is enhanced by scholarships offered by non state universities which provide opportunities to around 3,000 students to study in universities each year. “The Ministry of Higher Education will allow state and non state universities to enrol foreign students. Around 10,000 foreign students will be admitted initially and then increased to around 100,000 by 2020”, Dr. Nawaratne said. A large number of students go overseas to obtain professional qualifications each year as the present university structure restricts the intake. According to estimates around two percent of those who sit for the G.C.E Advance Level qualify to enter universities.