Education system producing misfits

November 13, 2011, 9:57 pm, The Island

by Maheesha Mudugamuwa

The present education system should be changed as it was producing more Arts graduates than required, Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said.

He said that the G.C.E (A/L) science and mathematics streams should be introduced to all schools. The government should create programmes that would encourage students to study for careers in science and technology.

The goal should be to improve student academic performance in maths, science and technology courses, while giving them the tools they need to build lasting professional careers in the 21st-century, knowledge-based economy, the Minister said.

Under the present education system, Weerawansa noted that a large number of graduates who were passing out of universities annually were Arts graduates, that was a pathetic situation as at there was no demand in the private sector, for them.

He added that reforms had been introduced to schools under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the aim of providing a solution to the issue of popular schools.

The Economic Development Ministry had allocated Rs. 20.6 million to develop sanitation facilities in 32 schools in the Kaduwela Divisional Secretariat division, he said.

Another Development projects would be implemented at a cost of Rs. 80.3 million in the Kaduwela Divisional Secretariat division. The government has also taken steps to uplift the education system and infrastructure facilities in 600 Schools country wide, he said.

SB wants police posts inside universities

November 13, 2011, 9:51 pm, The Island.


by Norman Palihawadana

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake yesterday dropped a bombshell when he announced his intention to introduce police posts inside universities to deal with student violence.

Dissanayake told The Island that police presence within university premises was almost universal. He said most foreign universities had their police units.

Violent clashes between student unions becoming a common occurrence, authorities had no alternative but to introduce police posts within universities to combat the growing menace, he said.

In the latest clash to occur in a Lankan university, two student groups of the science faculty of the Kelaniya University clashed last Thursday with at least half a dozen undergrads being wounded, being attacked by knives or stones. The Minister said discussions in this regard to post both male and female cops inside the universities were already underway and they hoped to introduce the measure next year to prevent future such clashes. At present police was summoned only after a clash.

If the police were already inside campuses they could nip any trouble in the bud or otherwise summon reinforcements within minutes if a situation was getting out of control, the Minister said.