Are we using or losing our scientists?

by Dr. M.C.L. De Alwis

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Summary

* Immediate steps need be taken to arrest the alarming rate at which Sri Lanka in losing its scientists.

* The government should recognise the value of the scientific community in its development goals and take such steps as is necessary to retain them, recognising their high marketability in the global job market.

* An attractive package of 'goodies' to encourage them to 'stay at home' should include not only a larger pay packet, but other incentives such as due recognition, rewards for work of excellence, and other privileges enjoyed by their counterparts.

* A conducive working atmosphere must be created to retain a contended scientific community by developing a more facilitatory and less regulatory management system, that will also help to harness their potential maximally, for the benefit of the country.

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The development effort of the present government is indeed laudable. In this effort it is important to identify the key area for development, and there is no doubt that food production and the search for alternative sources of energy which will emerge as priority areas for Research and Development (R & D). In this I wish to deal mainly with food production.

In the past few decades, the increasing population and the consequent demand for livable land has resulted in a diminution in the extent of agricultural land and an increase in the number of mouths to feed. It is also a fact that they younger generations within the farming community do not take to farming and are in search of white collar jobs. All these factors put together create a perfect background for a reduction in the per capita availability of essential food items. Within these limitations, the only way in which food availability can be increased is increasing the productivity per unit of land. This cannot be achieved by traditional agricultural practices; new and appropriated technologies have to be developed, and this could be accomplished only through research. Thus research and development is of utmost importance. What is true for food production applies to all other areas of development as well.

R & D

Let us now examine the status of R & D in Sri Lanka and the priority attached to R & D by the government. Two key factors that impinge on the R & D status are the financial investment and the quality and quantum of the human resources available. The investment on R & D in Sri Lanka, is woefully inadequate, even in comparison with other countries in the region. Sri Lanka's investment on R&D is a mere tenth of neighbouring India, in terms of percent G.D.P.

There is no doubt whatever about the quality of our scientists judging from their performance in developed countries.

A matter of grave concern is their dwindling numbers. The free education scheme introduced in 1944 has helped to draw the best talent that was inherent but hitherto hidden in all corners of the island. Thus, quality products emerge from our education system.

A serious impediment to our development effort is the alarming increase in the rate at which we are losing our qualified and skilled scientific personnel to other countries. The key factors that drive these personnel away into other countries are the apparent lack of security, relatively poor work facilities and the resulting lack of job satisfaction, poor remuneration in comparison with other countries, even in the Asian region and the belief that their offspring would have better educational facilities and job prospects elsewhere. Unless these issues are addressed and some attractive compensatory mechanisms are set in place, we will continue to lose our best talent, thereby impeding our development efforts. All of these problems cannot be resolved overnight but it is high time we recognised the problem and made a start. I wonder to what extent the Mahinda Chintanaya has addressed this issue.

Investment or education

Sri Lanka is a country where education from grade 1 to the highest level is free. This accounts for a substantial slice of the national budget. Considering the annual expenditure on school education alone (ie. Grade 1 - 13), in the years 2006 and 2007 the total actual expenditure was Rs. 12.5b and 18b respectively. The estimated expenditure for 2008 is Rs. 21b. Thus one could imagine what a colossal sum is spent on a single student over a period of 13 years.

The cost of university education on some science based courses per student estimated from the 2006 actual expenditure of the Peradeniya University is shown below.

Scientists in most research institutes are provided with postgraduate training as required for the development of their skills in order to perform the duties expected of them. Limited opportunities are available for such study locally, and either the students or their employers pay the fees.

The cost of postgraduate training abroad, is exorbitant. Nevertheless such training is required in order to acquire new technologies. Currently, a three year course in a university in a developed country costs around Rs. 20m. Training in countries of the Asian region is considerably cheaper. The Council for Agriculture Research Policy (CARP) established under Act No. 47 of 1987, and charged with the responsibility of facilitating agricultural research in what is called the National Agriculture Research System (NARS) consisting of 11 research institutes, has established a link with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), to train our agricultural scientists in India. The University fees are subsidised by the Indian Government. The cost of a 3 year program is under Rs. 2m, and is variable depending on the university and the field of training. Apart from the low cost of training, scientists trained in India have a greater tendency to stay in their home country, and the training acquired is more relevant to Sri Lanka. This is an example worthy of emulation in other fields as well.

Having made such huge investment on education and professional training, Sri Lanka cannot afford to lose the services of these scientists.

Brain drain

This is a much hackneyed term, on which a lot has been a said put little or nothing done. Some scientists who are sent abroad at government expense (including scholarships) never return. Others return to serve only for a few years and leave our shores in search of 'greener pastures'.

A study of the staff positions in many of our scientific institutions will reveal an alarming situation. Inadequacy of expertise and scientific leadership at the higher levels, lack of replacement staff and the number of unfilled vacancies due to numerous restrictions and obstructive procedures contribute towards this gloomy picture. As an example, at the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI - formerly CISIR), of a scientific and engineering cadre of 80, 46 qualified personnel had left prematurely during the past 10 years. With a rapid turnover of qualified staff it is not possible to build up the necessary expertise, and as a result the performance of any institute will diminish.

Possible solutions

In order to retain our scientists within our shores and to harness their full potential, there are some simple, practical measures that can be introduced.

* Better remuneration - considering the high marketability of our scientists in the global job market. They must be paid a reasonable salary in keeping with their expertise. Sri Lanka cannot afford pay scales obtainable in developed countries, but at least should be equivalent to what they can earn in the private sector.

* The existing cadre system in the services, which is a barrier to promotion of all deserving scientists must be removed.

* Promotions of scientists must be strictly performance based, upon evaluation by independent panels, which should include learned representatives of the industry. With the abolition of the cadre system, performance based promotions can be given to all deserving persons with no restriction on the existence of cadre vacancies. I once had the frustrating experience of serving on an interview board with the task of selecting two officers for promotion from a total of 128 eligible persons appearing before the board, as there were only two vacancies in the cadre, leaving many other deserving persons disappointed and frustrated. Cadre vacancies arise as a result of retirement, resignation or death of another. What is the rationale for allowing such factors as above to determine the promotional prospects of meritorious officers.

* Most of the services now have a 3 tired structure. Theoretically, one could reach the top at the age of around 40 years but many stagnate due to reasons given above. A structure must be created where officers become eligible for a promotion at least every five years, until they reach the age of 55. This feature coupled with performance based promotions will keep them on the hop throughout their career. Thus the country could harness the full potential of these scientists.

* The poor recognition given to scientists needs to be corrected. Almost every week we see on the television screen numerous persons such as sportsmen, film producers and actors, artists, musicians, media personnel being honoured with prestigious awards. It is seldom that we see scientists rewarded in this manner. Among the public there is no awareness of the contributions made by scientists and their impact. For instance it is hardly known, who and where the high yielding varieties of rice that contribute significantly to our food requirements have been developed locally. A regular scheme of national awards to scientists that contribute significantly to the national economy should be set in place.

* Disincentives and the attitude towards scientists must change, if they are to be encouraged to stay and work for their motherland. Scientists are often at the butt end of criticism by politicians who expect them to perform miracles. They are only concerned about miraculous achievements before the next election. Some scientists in order to find favour with the politicians for their survival and well-being tend to compromise. Those courageous scientists who afar rational advice often get into trouble.

Administrators often delight in keeping scientists under their thumb. Inordinate delays in the granting of salary increments and promotions is caused by administrative lethargy. A common experience of those undergoing postgraduate study abroad, particularly research degrees, is that they require short extensions of leave for very valid reasons. Applications for such extensions have to pass through a long winded route, and the papers often stagnate on the tables of administrators, to whom this is a matter of low priority. Meanwhile the trainees are kept on their toes not knowing whether to abandon their course and return, or to stay on and complete their program at the risk of receiving a vacation of post notice.

Scientists often have to attend seminars, workshops, and short term training programs to update their knowledge and skills. Each time, the prime ministers approval has to be obtained to leave the country, which process is often subject to inordinate delays. I once had an experience where an application for prime minister's approval made two moths before the event had not even reached the prime minister's office up to 5 days before the date of travel. Having rushed to Colombo, I was told that the papers were held up in the ministry as the minister concerned was campaigning, at a bye-election, and attended only to 'important' papers. The interesting question is, who decided what was important? Next the file had found its way to the wrong officers desk at the Department of External Resources, where it hibernated until my timely intervention which enabled me to make the trip.

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Course of study	      Duration    Expenditure/Student
Special Science	 	 4 yrs.		394,712
Agriculture		 4 yrs.		529,244
Veterinary Medicine	 4 yrs.		634,652
Medicine		 5 yrs.		742,265
Dental Science	 	 4 yrs.       1,205,732

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It is in the background of such common events that one has to view the humiliating treatment meted out to a scientist, Dr. Ziyad Mohamed, the former director of the Tea Research Institute, for visiting Japan prior to obtaining ministerial approval, despite having board approval.

It is reported that by this visit, he was instrumental in lifting the ban placed by Japan on Sri Lankan tea. What ‘reward’ did he receive? He was first imprisoned and then served with vacation of post notice.

It was the President’s intervention that eventually saved him. What gross injustice is this when viewed in the background of more serious offenses committed by public servants in high positions, financially and otherwise detrimental to the government, but receive no punishment whatever.

. Provide incentives - senior scientists should be given the some privileges enjoyed by their administrative counterparts.

The notion that one has to be an administrator to enjoy perks should be removed.

The goal of any professional would be to have a house of ones own and to possess a vehicle. Long term soft loans should be provided for housing and for the purchase of utility vehicles. Medical insurance schemes such as for bank and private sector employees may be provided. As a further incentive to keep scientists till the age 60, these schemes may be continued for life, on a contributory basis for those who serve till 60 years.

At present, there is a proposal to extend the retirement age beyond 60. An option would be to retire them at 60 and maintain selected scientists on an advisory panel, paid according to the use of their services. This would be more economical to the government.

* Make provision for Sri Lankan scientists working abroad to join / rejoin R & D institutions in Sri Lanka at a salary point and position commensurate with their qualifications and experience. The absence of a cadre system will make this possible without hindering the prospects of those within. India for instance has attracted a large number of their scientists, particularly in the IT field to return home and serve their motherland.

Maximise utilisation

In order to harness the talents of our scientists maximally, it is necessary to develop a more facilitatory and less regulatory administrative system for scientific institutions, with greater authority, responsibility and accountability been placed on the scientists themselves.

Scientists should be encouraged to focus their research on national needs rather than attempt to reach international goals for personal prestige. Towards meeting that end, a set of national research priorities should be developed in all fields; and this factor should be taken account in performance evaluation.

Having provided all these benefits to what one may call this ‘privileged class of persons, one has also got to strengthen the legal framework making it compulsory for the trained officers to remain in the institution that provided the training opportunity. The extension of the bond period beyond 10 years should also be considered; we cannot afford to lose scientists after 10 years of post training experience. They are of utmost value, particularly in providing guidance and scientific leadership to younger scientists. The completion of a university degree plus postgraduate training and 10 years of work experience is normally reached around 40 - 45 years of age. It is then these scientists are fully mature and we cannot afford to lose the balance 15 - 20 years of their service.

A start

The implementation of the above proposals will not solve the problem entirely. It will however, cut down our loss of scientific personnel to a significant degree.

A quick start must be made somewhere. Perhaps, the agriculture sector will be the area of choice, and a perfect infrastructure is already in place.

There are 11 major R & D institutions with several affiliated units in this sector covering the broad area of agriculture including plantations, livestock and fisheries, loosely bound into what is called the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). The CARP by virtue of the powers vested in the Act of Parliament in broad terms facilitates and supports research in the NARS. The NARS scientific staff could be absorbed into a separate service administered by the CARP.

All of the provisions mentioned above can be incorporated into such a structure.

As a second step an integrated scientific service incorporating all research scientists should be set up. Unless immediate action is taken the loss of our scientists will continue to a point where the institutions will fall below a level that is beyond redemption. Some institutions are already on the verge of reaching this situation.

Scientists themselves should get organised to uplift their status. Senior scientists should help their junior counterparts to develop their skills, so as to surpass even their own achievements. It is only then that there will be progress.

All too often, this is not the case and this is most unfortunate.

This article is written in the hope that will catch the eyes of the President and the relevant Ministers. It is equally important that the scientists themselves should agitate for these changes, and develop an interest in uplifting the status of the scientific community for the benefit of the country. They should realise the eventual consequences of continued complacence.

The writer has been a research worker, a research manager and a university teacher during his 37 year career.