University education under scrutiny

By Tissa Jayaweera

University education is a much-discussed subject by all governments that have been in power since independence. The number of students qualifying for university seats is always greater than the seats available at present. It is impossible for Government to provide university education for all who qualify.

Most students graduating from State universities expect employment by the Government. It has not been possible other than for the medical profession. Very soon there will be a saturation of doctors to be employed by the Government.

Students become militant and ask for facilities sometimes beyond the administrative functions of universities such as accommodation. That is the reason a progressive politician started Mahapola.

Universities of Ceylon were amongst the best in the world up to around 1970. Universities of Sri Lanka are not even ranked in the list. Who is at fault?

This is the one and only country where politicians incite students to protest to oppose establishment of universities by private sector. In most countries the level of education is higher in private universities in comparison to State universities.

There is student militancy in Government universities but up to now we have not seen any student militancy in private universities. This is because the students of private universities know the value of education whereas students of State universities are not educated by the authority on how much it costs the people of the country inclusive of parents of the students to provide education in a State university.

The lack of university facilities compels university qualified students of the affluent to seek education in developed countries. Now students gain entry into universities of developing countries as well as underdeveloped countries just because the degrees offered by these universities are recognised by certain professional bodies. These universities became recognised due to political affiliations and not by merit. If parents can afford to send children for overseas education, let them do so. It is none of our business other than the loss of foreign exchange of the country.

Permit the private sector to offer seats for the not-so-affluent students to obtain degree qualification equivalent to degrees offered by State universities. A solution to this is to have a common examination either conducted by State universities or by the Examinations Department. Government schools now have facilities for students to sit GCE O/L and A/L in English which is conducted by the Examinations Department. Students from all over the world sit for London O/L and A/L whereas London O/L and A/L are conducted by a private institution in London, England and not by the UK Government.

International schools have sprung up in many parts of the country to provide education to sit for London O/L and A/L. It is high time the authority permitted these so-called international schools to prepare students to sit for GCE O/L and A/L conducted by the Department of Examinations of Sri Lanka as private candidates. Those so qualified too should be offered a percentage of seats to enter State universities or private universities. Such students can pay the State the cost of education as well have seats of State universities open for fee-paying students of underdeveloped countries.

Universities of Ceylon were amongst the best in the world up to around 1970. Universities of Sri Lanka are not even ranked in the list. Who is at fault? It is successive governments as well as politicians who incite students to be militant for their political gain. Who is the loser? It is the younger generation. There was a time students of State universities graduated at age 22 or 24. Now it has moved up to 29. Once again, who has lost? It is the country and the younger generation. Students of private universities graduate between 22 and 24. Some who graduate from foreign universities may or may not come back. Who is the loser? It is the country and we say brain drain.

A solution to this issue is not for Government to open more State universities. Encourage the private sector to open more universities. The Government could offer student loans at low interest through State banks at 4% interest to be paid back in 60 months after graduation. This system is followed in most developed countries.

There will be protests from the Opposition and students incited by politicians stating “Adyapanaya Vikunang Kanawa”. The mandate of the Opposition is to oppose good and bad. Children of most politicians receive university education outside the country. It is none of our business to know how they afford it from a politician’s pay.

Of the approximate 10,000 schools of the country, only around 800 have science facilities. The politicians do not ask for more science colleges. Some village schools do not even have potable water or sealed toilets. They do not provide money from the decentralised budgets to help the masses but shout on behalf of the masses’ bath, karawala and parripu.

The Government is on the right track to offer money for fertiliser and school uniforms. Now let us take a step further by offering low interest loans to students who do not win seats in State universities to obtain a degree of their choice from private universities. The Government could take a step further by offering students of private schools/universities the opportunity to sit for the final examination of medical, engineering, law, economics and other degrees in demand as private candidates. This system is now applicable for GCE O/L and A/L.

Even at this late stage, if the country is to keep pace with the world, some democratic bold decisions have to be taken and keep Left-oriented ideas with the Leftists.