Directory on Alternative Higher Education Opportunities in Sri Lanka from Lirneasia

The Human Resources Research Program of Lirneasia has prepared and published a directory named “CHOICES - Higher Education Opportunities after A/Levels”.  This directory gives out results of one of its researches, Lirneasia plans to carry out several in-depth researches into higher education field of subject. Lirneasia plans to make the directory available at major super markets and prominent bookshops for the benefit of students who have completed advanced level, their parents or anyone who is desirous of obtaining a degree.

Students who pass the GCE Advanced level examination do not get the opportunity to enter the public university system in the country. However, all who drop-out of the public education system at advanced level do not face life without higher education as opportunities for private higher education were available in the country for quite some time.  

Education Research of World Bank reported in 2005 that, though only around 5% of the students enroll in public universities and formal technical education, another 6% enroll in alternative higher education courses outside the system. So far, no one has either carried out an analysis or prepared a directory of alternative higher education opportunities exist in Sri Lanka.  Stepping into this void, the Human Resources Research Program of Lirneasia has prepared and published a directory named “CHOICES - Higher Education Opportunities after A/Levels”.    

This directory consists of details of 46 private institutions who offer higher education and 10 government institutes or programs that offer higher education but enroll students without the mediation of the University Grants Commission.  It gives information on 258 courses including 249 under graduate programs and 5 degree- equivalent programs.  These information are arranged under four major fields namely Commerce, Computer Science/IT, Engineering and Other and in alphabetical order.   

Time duration and the cost of every course is included in the directory.  Cost is given in ranges such as less than Rs.200,000, Between 2 - 5 hundred thousand and so on.  Though, 55% of the courses cost over one million rupees, it was revealed in the research that some courses could be completed with less than rupees 200,000.  

The average time period to complete degrees in this directory is 3 – 4 years.  In addition to providing information on courses, enabling students to make an educated decision on which course to follow, directories of this nature are expected to raise awareness in the society of the concept that higher education of a child needs to be completed by the age of 21 or 22 and in turn, the public education system would also follow this concept with responsibility.  

Even if the private higher education institutions are often referred to as fake or phony, all degree awarding institutions stated by private education institutions included in this directory are approved by relevant authorities either in Sri Lanka or in foreign countries.  

Out of 51 foreign institutions included 49 are reputed universities with international listing that are recommended by the UGC. There are credible evidences that the balance five, although not included in recommended lists, is also reputed institutions in their countries.  

Lirneasia plans to make the directory available at major super markets and prominent bookshops for the benefit of students who have completed advanced level, their parents or anyone who is desirous of obtaining a degree. 

While this directory gives out results of one of its researches, Lirneasia plans to carry out several in-depth researches into this field of subject.   Dr. Sujata, Gamage could be contacted on [email protected]; 077-774-8470 for further information.