Editorial

Z-score and U-turns

June 29, 2012, 7:44 pm , the island

Ministers in charge of education and higher education are nursing their derriere following a humiliating pratfall at Hulftsdorp on Monday. They are bellowing empty rhetoric and trotting out ludicrous excuses to save face but the Z-score has manifestly boomeranged on them. Having defended the formula used for the 2011 GCE (A/L) examination Z-score calculation, in public and in Parliament, they cannot absolve themselves of the blame for its application and the attendant mess-up.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa's party, the National Freedom Front (NFF), not to be outdone by the Opposition which lost no time in hauling Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake over the coals, called for their resignation. Accusing them of having made a stinking mess of the education sector, NFF politburo member Piyasiri Wijenayake urged them to take responsibility for Z-score fiasco and step down forthwith.

Such calls are inconsequential as neither those who make them nor government ministers usually take them seriously, but Wijenayake's demand is of some significance as his party is a coalition partner of the ruling UPFA. His political derring-do may have gone down rather well but he was oblivious to the consequences of his utterances. It may not have occurred to him that his leader Minister Weerawansa was also bound by the so-called principle of collective Cabinet responsibility!

Minister Weerawansa made a vain attempt to control damage on Thursday. He argued at a public function that none of the government ministers were to be held responsible for the Z-score mess-up and the blame for it should be pinned solely on the experts who devised the formula at issue as well as the Examination Department bigwigs. But, no one––not even Wijenayake, we suppose––was convinced by Weerawansa's glib.

Minister Weerawansa chose to ignore the fact that the Education Minister and the Higher Education Minister had defended the Z-score formula to the hilt. He cut a very pathetic figure yet another time, trying to defend the indefensible.

Victory, they say, has a thousand fathers and defeat is an orphan. What would have happened if the Supreme Court judgment had gone in favour of the UGC? The beleaguered ministers would have claimed the credit for preparing the Z-score immediately and the ferocious government propaganda hounds who turned tail and ran away on Monday would have torn their critics to shreds.

We hope the UGC experts and the Examination Department worthies will learn from their mistakes and be wary of pandering to the whims and fancies of their political masters who have no qualms about wriggling out of difficult situations at the expense of anyone else.

Minister Weerawansa's claim that the government big guns should not be held responsible for what the State officials and experts do is of special interest. If so, the government should not seek the credit or grab the limelight when officials and experts successfully carry out tasks assigned to them. Fair enough, eh? Will Weerawansa peddle the same argument as regards who should be given the credit for the country's successful war on terror?

When Minister Weerawansa says politicians should not be blamed for what their officials do, are we to gather that he is trying to have his political masters frothing at the mouth believe that he should not be held responsible for what an NFF official (Wijenayake) has said?

Pseudo-Marxists are notorious for espousing populist causes as a matter of expediency while riding piggyback on capitalists in power to enjoy perks and privileges. Minister Weerawansa is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. He has apparently reached a stage where he does not know whether he is running or hunting!

Dons asked to justify their clamour for more

June 29, 2012, 9:08 pm , the island

The Higher Education Ministry Secretary in a letter addressed to academic staff members of all universities yesterday said that the latter’s struggle for salary increases did not have the element of social justice, as during the last two years, the salaries of academic staff members had been increased by an average of 66 percent.

Education Secretary Dr Sunil Jayantha Navaratne says in his letter: "I request you to ask yourself how you could justify your demand for another salary hike so soon. During the years 2011 and 2012 a salary of a senior professor increased by 73.88 percent while a professor’s salary had been increased by 69.73 percent. Salaries of a senior lecturer and a lecturer had been increased by 61.13% and 53.39%. Generally all the salaries of academic staff members have been increased by an average of 66%.

"In addition the payments for preparing question papers of university students have been increased by 400 percent this year. The payment for evaluating question papers of internal students by university teachers too had been increased by 400% and those of post graduate students by 150 percent. The payment for conducting visiting lectures also had been increased 200 percent.

"The government has also increased the credit limit of loans provided to university teachers and these loans are provided at a very lower interest rate. The government had doubled the budgetary allocations for the higher education sector in the last five years, the letter says.

"Therefore, I request you not to fall praay to those in the academic community who are acting on hidden agendas to further their personal interests. It seems that the main objective of these rabble rousers is to lead the country towards anarchy and to weaken institutional capacity of the country’s university system. Taking into consideration the increases of salaries made in the last two years, I request you to consider how you could reason out to the society the social justice element in the ongoing struggle for more increments," the letter addressed to all academic members through the Vice Chancellors of universities said."

Vice Chancellors tell FUTA why it shouldn’t strike

June 28, 2012, 9:33 pm , the island

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors has said that because academics have received substantial increase in remuneration and other benefits they shouldn’t disrupt universities.

The Committee was responding to Federation of University Teachers’ (FUTA) threat to launch an indefinite strike on July 4, 2012 demanding a salary increase and allocation of 6 per cent of the GDP to education. Chairman of the Committee Prof. Susirith Mendis has said that there is still an opportunity for negotiations with the government.

The following is the statement issued by Prof. Mendis consequent to a special meeting of the Committee held on Monday.

* Since the non academic trade union action has already disrupted academic activities of the universities, the impending trade union action by FUTA will continue to disrupt and seriously aggravate the situation adversely affecting free education;

* This will delay the admission of new students to the universities as well as the graduation of university students;

* This will result in waste of valuable academic expertise and other resources of the universities;

* This will seriously tarnish the credibility of the academics in the eyes of the public;

* This will erode the public confidence and superior positions maintained by the national universities as the premier providers of higher education in Sri Lanka and

* The academics have recently received substantial increases in remuneration and other benefits.

Vice Chancellors and Directors of Sri Lankan universities speak against union action

Wed, Jun 27, 2012, 10:14 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
 
Jun 27, Colombo: The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors Sri Lanka (CVCD) has come out against the trade union action planned by the university academics.
The CVCD issuing a statement has pointed out that the trade union action recently launched by the non-academic staff in universities has disrupted academic activities and that the planned action by the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) would also affect the university functions.
The committee has also pointed out that the union action would also delay the admission of new students and delay the graduation of university students and this will aggravate the public.
The statement notes, "Since the non-academic trade union action has already disrupted academic activities of the universities, the impending trade union action by FUTA will continue to disrupt and seriously aggravate the situation adversely affecting free education."
"This will delay the admission of new students to the universities as well as the graduation of university students; this will result in wastage of valuable academic expertise and other resources of the universities; This will seriously tarnish the credibility of the academics in the eyes of the public; This will erode the public confidence and superior positions maintained by the national universities as the premier providers of higher education in Sri Lanka," the statement said.
"The academics have recently received substantial increases in remuneration and other benefits," the CVCD pointed out.
The CVCD has also noted that opportunities still exist for negotiations with the state authorities before embarking on the proposed trade union action.
The FUTA has vowed to go ahead with the planned strike on July 04.

SB Stands by Z- Score .

Tuesday, 26 June 2012 17:52, Daylimirror

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake today reiterated that the Z- score system devised by the UGC was the best method that would cause the “least difficulties”. “We stand by the system devised by five eminent professors that this system would cause the least amount of difficulties and would ensure fairness among all students” he said.

However the Minister said that they would abide by the decision of the Supreme Court. “We agree with the decision of the Supreme Courts, but we are considering appealing against the decision and are currently consulting our lawyers” he said.

DIssanayake made these remarks addressing a press conference flanked by Proffessor Samaranayake the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Prof. Saratah Kulathunga of the Kelaniya University and member of the five member panel that prepared the z score system this year,

 Dissanayake when asked if he would resign oHigher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake today reiterated that the Z- score system devised by the UGC was the best method that would cause the “least difficulties”. “We stand by the system devised by five eminent professors that this system would cause the least amount of difficulties and would ensure fairness among all students” he said.

However the Minister said that they would abide by the decision of the Supreme Court. “We agree with the decision of the Supreme Courts, but we are considering appealing against the decision and are currently consulting our lawyers” he said.

DIssanayake made these remarks addressing a press conference flanked by Proffessor Samaranayake the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Prof. Saratah Kulathunga of the Kelaniya University and member of the five member panel that prepared the z score system this year,

 Dissanayake when asked if he would resign on this issue as requested by the UNP said “I can’t answer those questions please ask him” referring to the General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake.

Cartoon of the day, The Island

Intelligentsia shocked by actions against FUTA President

June 27, 2012, 10:16 pm , the island


By Ifham Nizam

Intellectuals and trade unions yesterday expressed concern over the recent intimidation and suspicious actions against Federation of University Teachers’ Unions, (FUTA) President, Dr. Nimal Ranjith Devasiri, who is also the Secretary of the Arts Faculty Teachers Union of the Colombo University.

Executive Editor of the Subavitha Magazine Mahinda Rathnayake told The Island yesterday that such tactics were clearly against democracy.

He said that the method of approach to intimidate a University Don sends a clear signal that it was not a personal move against an individual but against those who try to win their rights and work towards justice.

Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union, Vice Chairman, Keshara Kottegoda Withana said that the attempt was meant to send signals suppressing democratic rights which was not a healthy sign. "We vehemently oppose such moves," he added.

He also said that the group of people who had identified themselves as members of the Ministry of Defense, visited the neighbourhood in which Dr. Devasiri resided, and made inquiries about him and his family, in an attempt to intimidate them.

A jeep without a proper license plate was seen parked near his house. The action prompted Dr. Devasiri to lodge a complaint with the Maharagama police, he said.

He expressed hope that the police would take action against those involved in intimidating Dr. Devasiri.

In a letter addressed to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa copied to IGP N. K. Illangakoon, Professor Asanga Tilakaratne, President of the AFTU-CU stated:

"It has been brought to our notice that a group of men claiming to be from the Ministry of Defence have been behaving suspiciously within the neighbourhood of the Secretary of Arts Faculty Teachers’ Union (AFUTA), Dr. Nirmal Ranjith on June 19, 2012. They have questioned neighbours regarding Dr. Devasiri’s movements and details regarding his family. Dr. Devasiri has lodged a complaint with this regard at the Maharagama police Station on 21.06.2012.

"We are deeply concerned about this and request you to immediately launch an investigation into this matter."

Withana also noted that the University Teachers’ Union had been working to improve the livelihoods of university teachers, notably by campaigning for wage increases and improved working conditions. The Minister of Higher Education, S. B. Dissanayake had publicly opposed those efforts.

Trade unionists and political activists who campaign for wage increases and the improvement of working conditions were frequently threatened, and even, physically attacked, Withana added.

Education Minister refuses to budge

June 27, 2012, 12:00 pm , the island



by Dasun Edirisinghe

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday that there was no need for him to resign as he did not commit any wrong.

He was responding to the JVP’s and teacher trade unions’ demand for him to resign over the ‘Z–score’ fiasco.

"I was the third respondent in the ‘Z–score’ case and the examinations chief was the first respondent," Gunawardena said adding that the Supreme Court cleared them without any punishment.

Gunawardena said that the Examination Department calculated the ‘Z–score’ of the GCE (A/L) 2011 results based on the method given by the experts committee appointed by the University Grants Commission.

He said that the examinations department was not responsible for the ‘Z–score’ fiasco.

According to the Supreme Court order, the ‘Z–score’ of the two syllabi should be cal culated separately, the minister said adding that so far the UGC had not told the examination department to carry out the re-calculation.

Gunawardena said that the examinations department holds three major examinations, grade V scholarship, GCE (O/L) and GCE (A/L), per year.

"Our duty is to hold exams and evaluate papers," he said adding that the UGC was the authority for admitting students to universities and that was why they provided guidelines to make the ‘Z–score’.

The examination department calculated the ‘Z–score’ earlier using the formula given by the UGC, but the Court asked it to do it separately for the two syllabi, the minister said.

Now, the department was awaiting the new formula given by the Supreme Court, Gunawardena said.

UGC claims Uni. teachers given unusual pay hike

June 26, 2012, 9:54 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

The University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday said that the government had granted an unusual salary hike to university teachers and asked them to call off the strike scheduled to begin on July 04.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, UGC Chief Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said that according to revised salary structures, the salaries of senior professors, professors, assistant professors, senior lecturer grade I, senior lecturer Grade II, lecturer and probationary lecturers had been increased by 73.88 per cent, 69.73 per cent, 66.12 per cent, 61.13 per cent, 58.68 per cent, 52.39 per cent and 36.64 per cent respectively from October 12, 2012.

He said that they also increased the paper marking allowance from Rs. 20 to Rs. 100, visiting lecture fees from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500.

Addressing the same press conference, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake said most of senior lecturers were against the scheduled strike, but others forced them to join the strike.

"According to our information, lecturers of some faculties of universities countrywide would not join the strike," he said.

The minister said even the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors too were against the scheduled strike by university teachers and had asked to solve the problems through negotiations.

Dissanayake said that the government offered them an unbelievable salary hike despite doctors and judges demanding a salary hike too.

He said that the government also provided them with a housing loan scheme.

 

Non-academic staff call off strike

June 26, 2012, 9:46 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

University non-academic staff called off their strike last night after signing an agreement with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Labour Commissioner.

Media spokesman of the Inter University Trade Union Joint Committee Wijayathilaka Jayasinghe told The Island that the UGC had promised to rectify their salary anomalies within 45 days and issue a circular to that effect.

Non-academic staff launched the strike on June 06.

UGC experts stand by their method, but honour SC decision

June 26, 2012, 9:45 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the islnd

The UGC appointed experts panel, which prepared the combined Z-score for the two syllabi, yesterday insisted that they were still of the firm belief that their decision was the most fair method for students who sat the A/L examination in 2011.

Addressing a media conference at the UGC auditorium, flanked by Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake and UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, a member of the experts panel, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga, said that they had calculated the Z–score separately and deeply investigated it first.

"But it was more unfair to students," he said adding that it was the reason to go ahead with their second method to merge the Z–score of two syllabi.

The experts committee included Prof. K. R. M. T. Karunaratne of Sri Jayewardenepura University, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga of Kelaniya University, Prof. Sarath Peiris of Moratuwa University, Dr. Sarath Banneheka of Sri Jayewardenepura University and Dr. Dilhari Atygalle of the Colombo University.

Prof. Kulatunga said they however honoured the Supreme Court decision.

UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said that they would implement the Supreme Court order immediately, but would have to go to the Court again for some clarifications.

The Examination Department had the authority to calculate the Z–scores and issue the results, he said.

"But the Supreme Court issued the directive to us," Prof. Samaranayake said adding they would go to Court again to clarify whether it should be done by the UGC or the Examination Department.

He said that sometimes they might have to call for applications again for university admissions, but declined to comment further.

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake said that their lawyers were now working on the matter.

Annul A/L results and re-calculate-SC

Dailymirror

The Court also ordered the UGC to comply with the Universities Act and to take steps to calculate the Z-Scores on the basis that the Old Syllabus and the New Syllabus were distinct from each other.

Chief Justice Shirani A.Bandaranayake with Justices N.G. Amaratunga and K. Sripavan agreeing also ordered the UGC to take steps to re-issue the Z-Scores to the candidates who sat the 2011 GCE A/L Examination  after correcting the errors and shortcomings and to do so without delay.

The Court said it was not within the purview of this application to correct the validity of the results that had been released with regard to the 2011 GCE A/L examination and in the absence of any valid material the Court would not interfere with the results of this exam.

It said that because the UGC had treated the two categories of students who sat the examination under a single section the UGC had violated the petitioners’ fundamental rights to equality and equal protection of the law.

Sixteen GCE A/L students and the Ceylon Teachers’ Union filed the fundamental rights violation petition citing Examinations Chief W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardene, Peradeniya University Professor R.O. Thattil and the Attorney General as respondents.(SSS)

Undergrads to add to govt. woes

June 25, 2012, 9:37 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

Undergraduates will launch a new protest campaign against the government’s delay in solving the problems of university non academic staff who are currently on an indefinite strike demanding rectification of their salary anomalies.

Convener of the Inter University Students Federation Sanjeewa Bandara told The Island that the academic calendar, including examinations were completely paralysed due to the strike started on June 06.

"Examinations in most universities have been postponed due to the strike and undergraduate have to wait months to sit them," he said.

Bandara said that as it was the academic calendar was late by two or three years. The current situation would add to the backlog in the universities.

"All degree programmes got delayed by three months when university teachers launched a trade union action last year. This strike too entered its 20th day today", he said.

According to him they would support the trade union action and the government should meet their demands immediately to stop it.

Bandara said university teachers too planned to start a strike from July 04 and the situation would become worse if the government did not provide immediate solution.

UGC asked to calculate Z-score separately for two syllabi

June 25, 2012, 9:56 pm 

By Chitra Weerarathne, the island

The Supreme Court yesterday declared null and void the August 2011 GCE (A/L) examination Z-score. The judgement said that there was a complex question as regards the Z-score calculated on the basis of the old syllabus and the new syllabus taken together.

The second respondent, the University Grants Commission, was directed to comply with Section 15 (Vii) of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978, as amended and to take necessary and relevant steps to recalculate the Z-score marks of the candidates who sat the GCE (A/L) examination in August 2011, according to accepted methods.

The main issue, in the fundamental rights violation application, was the calculation of the Z-score. Therefore, it was not within the purview of the application to consider the validity of the raw results that had been released. Further, in the absence of any cogent material, the Supreme Court would not interfere in the results of the AL Examination, the judgment said.

The Court ruled that a complex question had arisen due to the treatment of the two syllabi as a single population. That was incorrect, it said.

Judgement said: "Although there is no specific provision dealing with the right to education in our Constitution as such, in the Universal declaration of Human Rights, the said right has been accepted and the right has been acknowledged by our Courts, through the provisions of Article 12 (1) of the Constitution. In doing so, the Supreme Court, has not only considered that the right to education has been accepted as a fundamental human right but also accepted the value of education, which has been described by James A. Garfield as next in importance to freedom and justice. Without education, neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained.

Since the UGC had taken steps to treat the two categories of students who sat for the New and Old syllabi as a single population, wherein, they clearly belong to two distinct populations, the UGC violated the petitioners’ fundamental right to freedom from arbitrary treatment guaranteed in Article 12 (1) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka."

The Court accepted the view of the petitioners that the students had not been previously informed of the pooling of the two syllabi. More than half the population that sat the AL in August 2011, comprised students who followed the new syllabus.

J. C. Weliamuna appeared with Sanjeewa Ranaweera for the petitioner students and the petitioner Teacher Trade Union.

Faiz Mustapha PC, appeared with Kushan De Alwis, Kaushalya Nawaratne and Faizer Marker for the second respondent the University Grants Commission.

Senior State Counsel Nevin Pulle appeared with State Counsel Suren Gnanaraj for the Minister of Education the first respondent. Fifth respondent, Professor R. O. Thatill appeared for himself.

The Judgement was by the Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake with Justice N. G. Amaratunga and Justice K. Sripavan agreeing.

Z-score declared null and void

August 2011 GCE (A/L) results:

June 25, 2012, 9:49 pm 

Calls for Bandula and SB to resign

By Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

Soon after the Supreme Court ordered the University Grants Commission (UGC) to annul the 2011 GCE (A/L) examination Z-score calculation and to recalculate the score separately for the old and new syllabi, education sector trade unionists, students and civil society organisations called for the immediate resignation of ministers S. B. Dissanayake and Bandula Gunawardena from their portfolios of higher education and education respectively.

"This Supreme Court order is a victory not only for the students but also for the entire nation," Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, National Organiser of the JVP affiliated Socialist Students’ Union said. The order for the UGC to annul the ‘Z-score’ calculation 2011 and re-calculate Z-scores for both old and new syllabi separately and issue the results soon was most welcome at a time when ministers and some officials had done their utmost to destroy public trust in the country’s examination system, he said.

General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Service Union Mahinda Jayasinghe said that since December 26, 2011, the day the results of the last GCE (A/L) examination were released, the progressive forces of the country had rejected the results as they were erroneous. "We within two days called for its cancellation and re-calculation of the marks obtained by candidates. Then, these two ministers and their officials made the greatest possible effort to defend those flawed results. They said that there had been slight aberration in district ranking system and that could be rectified. They went to the extent of criticising and blaming us for pointing out the mistakes."

National Organiser of the People’s Movement for the Protection of Schools Dhammika Alahapperuma called the Supreme Court order a historic victory for future generation of Sri Lanka. "We call upon Ministers Bandula Gunawardena and S. B. Dissanayake to resign and go home if they have even an iota of shame left in them."

SB hits at Medical Council

Dailymirror
While claiming that it was not necessary to get permission from the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) to establish the Malabe Private Medical College (MPMC), Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said arbitrary action that was being taken by the SLMC brought disgrace to the well experienced veteran specialist doctors.

“The SLMC is represented by a few doctors who do not include the reputed and recognised doctors of the country. Arbitrary action being taken by the SLMC brings disgrace to the well experienced veteran specialist doctors. They conduct protests in order to protect their financial advantages and the selfish wishes of these small groups could not be allowed to hinder the education system of the country,” Minister Dissanayake said addressing at a ceremony held in Udunuwara.

He also said the authorities had already finalised all the arrangements for the legal recognition of the MPMC and the “acceptance of degrees offered by the MPMC, despite the protest by some interested parties who are silent when various universities are opened for different fields of studies.” (R.S. Kiriyawatta) 

Making universities more effective

June 24, 2012, 7:03 pm 

By Dr. C. S. Weeraratna, the island

A knowledge society and knowledge-based economy are the latest catch words in the field of education. Knowledge, skills and resourcefulness of people are critical to the building up of a knowledge society which is crucial for achieving the objective of a knowledge-based economy. During the last two decades, most of the South and South East Asian countries have developed considerably by with the involvement of the academics. Although education at primary, secondary and tertiary level including vocational training is relevant in building up a knowledge society, universities play a prominent role in achieving this objective.

In Sri Lanka, there are 15 universities and 7 postgraduate institutes maintained at an annual cost of around Rs 20 billion. These Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) under the jurisdiction of the University Grants Commission (UGC) have a total academic strength of around 5,000, most of them with postgraduate qualifications. Among these 5,000 are nearly 500 professors, 200 associate professors, and 1,750 senior lecturers and lecturers. The main objective of the universities in Sri Lanka should be to develop human resources to meet national development needs through innovative educational, research and outreach programmes.(In fact, this is the mission of one of our universities.)

According to Prof. Ranjith Senaratna (RS) see Professors: Underutilized treasure in our universities? In the Island of 12 June a considerable number of the university academics are accomplished scholars and scientists of international repute. They possess considerable knowledge, experience and expertise in their respective fields.

But, to what extent has the human and other resource base of our universities been used to meet national development needs through innovative educational, research and outreach programmes?.

According to RS there are some professors in the Sri Lankan Universities who do not belong to this category of intellectual elite. RS says "Regrettably, some have contributed minimally to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge even in their own fields; and have not published in any indexed journal." If this is the correct position, what is the UGC going to do about it?

Universities and socio-economic development

In Sri Lanka, government funds the public HEIs and expects/promotes them to contribute to socio-economic development of the country. But, the vast intellectual and infrastructural resource base of the universities has remained almost untapped or underutilized. It is obvious that our HEIs should initiate /implement programmes to mobilise and channel their resources for regional/national development.

The university academic staff are expected to do research and extension. Conducting research, especially laboratory/field research is a real challenge. In spite of many difficulties, a large number of university academics conduct research. How have these research benefited the country?

Ideally the universities and /or the UGC should have a programme in collaboration with appropriate public and private organisations to commercialise/make use of the research findings of the university staff. It is then only that the research conducted by them can have an impact on the socio-economic development of the country. There is at least one HEI in each of the provinces and the UGC, the apex body of the university system, need to develop an effective system which will give the academics in these HEIs an opportunity to effectively contribute to the socioeconomic development of the respective provinces. What has the UGC done in this regard?

The socio-economic challenges which we face in Sri Lanka have increased considerably during the last few years. To overcome these, the academics of the universities need to collaborate with the appropriate public-private sector organisations to implement short /medium/long term programmes. But, there appears to be no effective mechanisms for the university academics to be involved/coordinate with the appropriate public-private organisations to effectively address the challenges faced by the country. A few years ago there were attempts by the Ministry of Agriculture to coordinate with the university agriculture faculties to find solutions to the pressing problems in the agriculture sector by formalising links among the public sector agricultural research institutions and the agriculture faculties of universities, but these attempts appear have died down. If such coordination had been effectively established, we would have found solutions to some of the pressing problems such as the Weligama Coconut Wilt and other issues/problems facing the agriculture sector. .

Vice chancellors

The Vice-Chancellor is a full-time Officer of the University. According to a recent advertisement calling applications for the post of VC, he/she is the Principal Executive Officer, the Principal Academic Officer and Accounting Officer, an Ex-officio member and Chairman of both the Council and the Senate. Hence, he/she is responsible for providing academic leadership, formulating and introducing management policies and should therefore uphold the principles of academic excellence, transparency, accountability, and effective leadership.

But, according to RS (‘New breed of institutional leaders for internationalising Lankan Universities’ serialised in The Island of 29th, 30th and 31st May 2012,) the procedure currently adopted in appointing Vice Chancellors is outdated and out of step with current needs". Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, in his piece which appeared in The Island (4 June 2012) has said, "In our system of patronage appointments, the most unsuitable persons – embezzlers, womanizers, drunkards, political stooges and the down-right lazy – are put up for high appointments." Perhaps high appointments include VCs. Prof. O. A. I. Ileperuma, too, in his piece in The Island of 4 June says, "We in Sri Lanka are still in the dark ages as regards the appointment of Vice Chancellors. The University academic community and academic bodies like the Senates have no say in appointing their leader and no one really knows on what basis the Vice Chancellor is selected from among the three names submitted to the President. Clearly we are 50 years backward compared to other universities even in this region. No wonder that none of our Universities are ranked in the first 1500 in the world ranking of universities."

RS is of the view that Vice-Chancellors need to be given adequate operational autonomy. But there were many instances where some VCs were alleged to have been corrupt. Right now there is case against a former VC for giving false information about his son and daughter to obtain land which belonged to two poor farmers. As RS has pointed out it is essential to have a highly competent and independent Council that can advise and guide the university administration and control the activities of ineffective and corrupt VCs.

University Grants Commission

It is true that VCs play a leading role in the universities. But, RS in his contribution to The Island in May 2012, appears to have forgotten the importance of the University Grants Commission (UGC). This is the apex body of the University System in Sri Lanka. Among the main functions of the UGC are planning and coordinating university education, allocating funds to Higher Educational Institutions, maintenance of academic standards, regulation of the administration of universities and regulation of admission of students.

An applicant to any academic post in a university has to face an interview panel of eminent academics. In the appointment of a VC, the post is advertised, and the University Council selects three candidates from the applicants. But, no such procedure is followed in the appointment of UGC Chairman, and the Vice-Chairman who are expected to provide leadership to the whole university system. Minister of Higher Education (HE) is involved in the Formulation of Policies for the Higher Education Sector. Hence, the Minister of Higher Education needs to be a person of very high academic standing (not just a graduate) with wide experience in university/academic matters. RS in his article emphasises the need to have effective leadership in the universities, who can make effective decisions under different strategic and risk scenarios. But, if the Minister of HE, perhaps the highest in the higher education sector is not adequately qualified with no experience in university matters, the whole exercise of appointing effective VC s will be futile!

If we are to build a knowledge-based society, which will eventually lead to socio-economic advancement of the country, the institutions of the higher education sector need leaders who can give effective academic leadership and the students with staff looking up to them.

The author (csweera@sltnet.lk) is the

former Professor of Agronomy at Ruhuna University and

former Professor of Soils and Water Resources at Rajarata University.

SB, stumbling block to solving university problems – JVP

June 24, 2012, 9:54 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe,the island

The JVP yesterday alleged the Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake was purposely delaying solutions to the problems of university teachers and the non-academic staff.

Addressing a press conference at party head office at Pelawatta, JVP Propaganda Secretary Vijitha Herath said that they would fully back the on-going strike launched by the university non-academic staff and university teachers’ strike scheduled to commence on July 04.

Responding to Minister Dissanayake’s claim that the JVP was behind the trade union action in the university sector, he said, JVP would always be in the forefront to protect the free education system of the country, which, he claimed, the present government was trying to privatise.

Herath asked how minister Dissanayake could blame the JVP for disrupting universities, when the pro-government Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya, too, supported the ongoing strike of the non academic staff.Herath said that according to UNESCO standards, a country should allocate 6% of the GDP to the education sector, but this government had allocated only 1.86% of GDPfrom the last budget.

"That was the main demand of university teachers," MP Hearth said, accusing Minister Dissanayake of abusing his powers in a bid to break the strike.

FUTA to continue union action despite threats, says its president

By Skandha GunasekaraView(s): the sunday Times

Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) President Dr. Nirmal Dewasiri vowed that the academics would continue their trade union action to win their demands despite continued threats allegedly by those connected to the defence authorities.
Dr.Dewasiri who faced threats not only to his personal security but also that of his family said he would continue to give leadership to the Association till the Higher Education Ministry takes serious note of the issues raised by the Federation.
A delegation from FUTA met with Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayake last Wednesday but the talks were unsuccessful.“It is apparent that the Minister is taking this matter lightly and his approach towards us is intimidating. We are very pessimistic that any productive dialogue can take place with this Minister in the near future,” Dr.Dewasiri said.

Staff members holding a protest in front of the Faculty of Aesthetics in Colombo. Pic by M.D. Nissanka

FUTA has condemned the intimidatory tactics allegedly used by the Government, particularly the threats to Dr.Dewasiri’s family.
He alleged that persons claiming to be from the Defence Ministry have visited his neighbours’ houses seeking information on several occasions in the past week, regarding his daughter.
The men had told the neighbours conflicting stories on why they needed such information, one being that as Dr.Dewasiri’s daughter is planning to go overseas therefore they needed the information and on another occasion that she had applied for a job at the Defence Ministry and security clearance was needed.
However, Dr. Dewasiri said his daughter is only in her first year Advanced Level class and is neither planning to go overseas nor interested in joining the Defence Ministry.
Dr. Dewasiri himself received an anonymous call soon after the conclusion of Friday’s media conference where a person claiming to be a student of the Colombo University accused him of sabotaging their studies and told Dr.Dewasiri that he and his family would be harmed unless he stops the trade union action.
He said the tactic was aimed at intimidating him and forcing him to back down from trade union action.
Venerable Dambara Amila Thera, also a FUTA member, said that the intimidatory tactics are used by the government as a means to solve problems. He warned that this would affect all aspects of society and that it is the duty and responsibility of the public to protest and object against such acts by the government and ensure that democracy prevails.
Meanwhile members of the University of Visual and Performing Arts have spoken out against the decision taken by the Higher Education Minister to abolish the aptitude test that is used to select applicants to the university.
Faculty Union President Chandragupta Thenuwara said that this aptitude test not only judges the knowledge of the subject but also the applicant’s creative skills and practical knowledge.
However at the Advanced Level examination 50% of the marks are given for the practical paper and 50% for the theory paper. Hence a student with low skills in practical knowledge can get an “A” pass by writing a good theory paper Therefore this aptitude test is vital to select students who have knowledge of the subject as well as practical skills, he said.
Mr.Thenuwara charged that the decision to abolish this test was taken after some students who failed the aptitude test petitioned the Minister.
He said if the aptitude test is done away with, deserving students will miss out on the opportunity to gain admission to this Faculty.

Editorial

 

 

Protect FUTA head!

June 22, 2012, 7:15 pm , the island

It was with shock and dismay that we received the news of a cowardly attempt to intimidate President of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri. The identities of those who visited his residence while he and his family members were away on Wednesday and sought to gather information about him and his daughter from a neighbour are not known. But, it is only natural that the government has become the main suspect. Give a dog a bad name.

Dr. Devasiri leads university teachers' trade union battles from the front. An outspoken critic of the government, he has got under the skin of the powers that be because of his frank and forthright views.

Even if the government has had no hand in the alleged attempt to intimidate the FUTA chief as it claims, it cannot absolve itself of the blame for having created the present culture of impunity where anyone can harm anyone else and get away with it. This dangerous situation has proved beneficial only to the government as it is free from threats and violence which affect others. Hence, its unwillingness to change the status quo, we reckon.

It is being argued in some quarters that there is freedom of expression in this country. Yes, that argument is tenable to some extent, but the fact remains that while people have the freedom to express themselves, others have the freedom to kill them for doing so. We saw last week what happened to a group of JVPers who met at Katuwana to exercise their freedom of expression; armed goons swooped on the meeting and fully exercised their freedom to kill and maim!

Attempts to intimidate their union president notwithstanding, frustrated university teachers have unanimously resolved to launch a continuous strike from July 4 unless their demands are met forthwith.

It is only wishful thinking that the government could quell the Academic Spring which is gathering momentum. Strong arm tactics, vilification campaigns and the like will only aggravate an already bad situation. There is no way the government could justify its refusal to pay the warring dons more while spending as much as Rs. 2 bn per annum to pay the taxes of some privileged categories of state workers in blatant violation of the law. Since it is never short of funds to splurge on political circuses and VVIPs' overseas junkets with planeloads of lackeys in tow, it cannot cite pecuniary difficulties as the reason for not honouring its promises. It ought to grant the university dons the promised salary increases and be done with it!

Cocky and arrogant, the government has dug itself into a hole––a massive one at that––and is trying to get out of it desperately. What it must do immediately is to stop digging deeper unless it wants the hole it is trapped in to become its grave. It has apparently mistaken governance for a process of making promises, reneging on them and bluffing its way out of difficulties that stem from its failure to come up with the goods.

The government must order the police to arrest those who sought to intimidate Dr. Devasiri on Wednesday and take steps to protect him and his family. Let no lame excuses be trotted out! Its selective efficiency in tracking down lawbreakers is monumental. It took only a few days to nab a burglar who had broken into the highly connected SriLankan Airlines chief's house (though the thieves of priceless artefacts from the National Museum are still at large). Its failure to do so will only confirm suspicions in the public mind that it was behind Wednesday's incident.

FUTA calls on people to resist repression

‘Govt. is testing our patience’

June 22, 2012, 9:18 pm ,the island


by Harischandra Gunaratna

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) yesterday condemned the ‘repressive and intimidating tactics’ of the government and vowed that it would not allow the democratic rights of the people to be taken away.

FUTA president Dr. Nirmal Devasiri said that the members of the association would launch an indefinite strike commencing on July 4 and it would be based on six demands.

Addressing a news conference in Colombo Dr. Devasiri was critical of the Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake’s conduct which, he said, was unbecoming of a person in charge of Higher Education.

Responding to a question on whether he believed that the police could trace those who had attempted to intimidate him and his daughter, Dr. Devasiri said it was not an issue that they could tackle, noting that the police were powerless as the elements involved in such incidents operated with impunity.

"The government is testing our patience," the FUTA chief said.

The FUTA President said that some persons had visited his neighbourhood claiming to be from the Defence Ministry on Thursday and inquired about his daughter and him. They had said that his daughter had applied for a job at the Defence Ministry and also that she had been trying to go overseas.

Dr. Devasiri said that his daughter was just studying for her GCE (Advanced Level) and had never sought employment at the Defence

Ministry or tried to go overseas. A complaint had been lodged with the Maharagama police, he said.

Ven. Dambara Amila Thera said that the time had come people to rise as one against government repression. He said collective action by the public, the media with effective editorials revealing the truth and civic-minded organisations launching a relentless campaign demanding the arrest of Julampitiye Amare, who was moving freely after allegedly killing two persons, had finally forced him to surrender.

Ven. Amila stressed that if the masses acted as one against the repressive action of the ruling party, the government would not be able to continue with such action for long.

Prof. Asanga Tillakaratne said that in Sri Lanka education had become a lucrative business and the domain of the privileged and powerful. The authorities should not leave education in the hands of those who were intent on profit making, he said. "Even Harvard is a private institution but it is not a profit making one," he said.

FUTA head complains to police

June 21, 2012, 10:22 pm , the island.


President of Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri yesterday lodged a complaint with the Maharagama police that he was under threat.

Dr. Devasiri told the police that two unidentified persons had visited his house in Pannipitiya on Wednesday while he and other family members were away and inquired from a neighbour about him and his daughter’s daily routine.

The FUTA chief said that on being asked why they were making such inquiries, the strangers had told the neighbour that his (Dr. Devasiri’s) daughter had applied for a job in the Defence Ministry. (DE)

 

‘Z-Score’ judgment on June 25

June 21, 2012, 10:23 pm

By Chitra Weerarathne, the island

The Supreme Court on June 25, 2012 will deliver the judgment on the Fundamental Rights Violation application filed by a group of students and the Teachers’ Union against the formulation of the Z-Score for the 2011 GCE (A/L) examination.

The petitioners have challenged the pooling method used for calculating the Z-score for the examination conduced under the new and old syllabuses. Their position is that the two syllabuses should be considered separate in calculating the Z-score, on the basis of which students are admitted to universities.

The petitioners want the results, already declared cancelled.

UNI. non-academics in vital talks with govt. today

June 20, 2012, 10:07 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe,the  island

A crucial meeting between university non-academic staff and government officials has been scheduled for this morning at the Labour Commissioner’s office, as the strike launched by the non-academics enters its 16th day today.

President of Inter University Trade Union Federation R. M. Chandrapala told The Island that the fate of the ongoing strike would be decided at today’s meeting.

"We expect to arrive at a final decision at the meeting which scheduled to be attended by the Labour Commissioner and officials from the University Grants Commission," he said.

Meanwhile, non-academic staff from all universities, including the Jaffna University, held a protest march from the Colombo University to the UGC yesterday.

Chandrapala said that they were demanding an immediate solution to longstanding salary anomalies.

"We don’t want to inconvenience students who face the examinations these days, but we have no other option but to strike as we have been cheated by successive governments since 1997" he said.

SB assures FUTA he will fix meeting with President

June 20, 2012, 9:30 pm

By Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

The Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) yesterday received an assurance from Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake that a meeting would be arranged with President Mahinda Rajapaksa to discuss their grievances, FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Devasiri told The Island.

Dr. Devasiri said that Minister Dissanayake offered to seek a meeting with the President after yesterday’s talks, which also involved Higher Education Secretary, Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, failed to resolve contentious issues. According to him the talks focused on their demand to allocate six per cent of the GDP for education and the salary issue.

Asked whether the FUTA would suspend its decision to strike on July 4, the FUTA chief said that they would go ahead with it, though the minister promised to arrange a meeting.

President Mahinda Rajapaska himself had broken the earlier promise to grant them redress through the budget 2012, Dr. Devasiri said adding that as responsible professionals in the country they would meet him again.

If there is no positive response from President Rajapaksa, too, before July 04 they would launch a continuous strike, he said.

The Academic Spring continues!

June 17, 2012, 7:51 pm ,the island


By Camena Guneratne and Harini Amarasuriya
Open University of Sri Lanka

Almost one year ago, we wrote an article suggesting that there were signals from the academic community that it was waking up from a long slumber. We wrote about the fact that the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) was moving away from, primarily a battle for salaries, to addressing a range of issues affecting not just higher education, but education in general.

We felt inspired to write another piece after participating in the FUTA march and rally that marked the academics’ token strike on the 26th of April, 2012. After almost one year, FUTA called upon academics from all the national universities to come together for a protest march starting from the University of Colombo to the Public Library where several speakers addressed the gathering. The proceedings were chaired by Prof. H Sriyananda, a much respected, former FUTA President. What was significant about this rally was that of the many demands put forward by FUTA, explaining the reasons for the strike, the primary focus was not on salaries but on other pressing issues faced by state universities and the national education system. The slogan for the day was, ‘Let’s Protect State Universities’ and one of the main demands was for the government to allocate 6% of the GDP for education. Other demands included a more consultative and transparent policy making process and halting the politicization and micro-management of universities by the Higher Education Minister in violation of the Universities Act. Academics also registered their protests against the suppression of student activism and the instigation of intra-student violence through the Ministry’s open support of certain student factions.

The letter sent by the General Secretary of FUTA to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister of Higher Education
S. B. Dissanayake giving notification of the token strike was in a sense historic in that perhaps for the first time in the history of FUTA’s trade union struggles, it sent a strong message to the government, that the academic community is no longer confining itself to the issue of university teachers’ salaries and other benefits, but is now taking on the many issues and challenges faced by the higher education sector and that it is holding the government to account on these matters.

Given that salary issues were not the main focus of the march and the rally (and also considering the inclement weather at the time), the turnout was particularly impressive. Almost 800 academics from all parts of the country converged on Colombo that day. Their enthusiasm and energy were palpable and the concerns of academics were eloquently expressed by the stream of speakers at the meeting.

Success

Part of the reason for the success of the token strike on that day could be attributed to the slow and incremental steps FUTA has been taking over the past several months with regard to keeping its membership awake. When the trade union action was called off last year, there was a feeling of shock and even betrayal. Many within the academic community were not ready to call the strike off and were unhappy at the decision. But it is clear that the mobilisation of academics that took place during last years’ trade union action has not diminished and has now been channelled into wider national issues.

The activism of the academic community gained a renewed impetus as a result of the government’s attempt to pass an ill conceived law relating ostensibly to the establishment of non state universities. This Bill was earlier titled the Qualification Framework, Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions Act, and then, in a later version, re-named the Higher Education (Non-State) Act. Notwithstanding its name it is not limited to establishing a (very questionable) legal framework for setting up non-state universities. While the current Universities Act clearly excludes any political interference in the functioning of universities and limits the role of the Minister in their academic and administrative affairs, the proposed law reverses this position. Under the guise of ensuring quality control of universities, it gives the Minister total control over all academic matters in state universities to the extent of permitting him/her to terminate or suspend academic programmes.

UGC sidlined

The draft law sidelines the University Grants Commission, which is currently the apex body overseeing the functioning of State universities, including quality control, and takes away the autonomy of university Faculty Boards and Senates to decide on matters relating to instruction, education, research and examinations in universities. Most amazingly, a ‘secrecy’ clause in the draft law requires all persons involved in the process of quality assurance of universities to sign a declaration of secrecy in respect of any matter which may come to their knowledge in the exercise of their functions. In effect, the law, if enacted would give the Minister the power to terminate university academic programmes without giving any reasons and with no accountability for his/her actions. This Bill was, in fact, drafted in secrecy and to date its origins are unknown. It would probably have been rushed through Parliament if academics had not got wind of it. The swift reaction by FUTA which voiced its strong protests against the Bill has, for the time being, resulted in it being put on hold.

Non-State universities

Academics’ concerns are that the establishment of non-State universities is in effect a strategy of the government to abdicate responsibility for university education in Sri Lanka and transfer this sphere totally to the private sector. The draft law was one such attempt. However, over the years the capacity of universities in this country to function effectively and to provide a quality education to students has been systematically eroded, partly by political interference in university matters, but mainly by the withdrawal of funds for education.

A presentation by Prof. Amal Kumarage of the University of Moratuwa at the public meeting demonstrated very clearly the extent to which successive governments had sidelined education and higher education over a period of time. He quoted a World Bank Report of 2011 titled Transforming School Education in Sri Lanka which states, "Public expenditures on education in Sri Lanka are modest when compared to middle income countries and other comparable nations. Education expenditure as a percentage of GDP is 1.9 percent and as a proportion of the government budget is 7.3 percent. This is the smallest share of public investment in education among a cluster of countries that share common features with Sri Lanka. Public investment in education in Sri Lanka falls below the level of East Asian countries such as South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore; Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Columbia and Cost Rica; and of the other South Asian nations such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. It is also well below the share of investment for middle income countries as a whole. In fact, advanced middle income countries normally invest about 4.6 percent of national income in education, which is more than double the share of national income devoted to education by Sri Lanka."

UNESCO statistics

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics even sub-Saharan Africa spends close to 4.5% on education and it further states that "By far the lowest level of public spending is found in Central Asia and in East Asia and the Pacific – both of which report only 2.8% of GDP." Sri Lanka with an annual expenditure of 1.9% of GDP on education does not even come close to the lowest. Of this amount, the proportion that has been allocated for university education has been steadily decreasing. In 2005, it was 0.50% and this has decreased to a mere 0.27% in 2010. Universities are accused of not being able to cater to the increasing demand for higher education; with such woefully inadequate investment in university education how can we accommodate larger numbers, let alone improve the quality of higher education?

University academics are now campaigning for greater investment in education and the slogan "6% of GDP for education" has become a central theme in discussions. This is not a random figure plucked out of the air; it is a UNESCO recognised benchmark on what a country should invest in education. There is now far more discussion in Sri Lanka regarding this allocation and this is due to academics taking up this issue as a primary concern. Faculty Boards and Senates in universities have also slowly started taking up matters such as these with more energy, making it clear to university administrators that they cannot ride roughshod over established procedures.

Such bodies exist for the purpose of debate and consultation on all matters relating to higher education and there are signs that they are now becoming forums of intense debate on a range of issues. Academics are beginning to assert their rights and obligations to actively participate in the decision making process.

A related matter of concern for academics is the erosion of university autonomy and academic independence in recent years. Academics themselves have contributed to this erosion by remaining ignorant of proper procedures and not only allowing procedures to be bypassed but by actively by passing these themselves. For instance, the University Grants Commission (UGC) remains the central body that is responsible for universities and academics. This is very clear in the Universities Act. Although, this Act gives the Minister of Higher Education a role, it is an extremely limited one and the Minister has no say in academic matters. It is clear that over the years, these boundaries have been seriously violated. The ‘leadership training’ given to university entrants without consultation with universities is a case in point. The recent concessions provided to CIMA to operate within universities is another instance where Senates and Faculty Boards were bypassed when making decisions that have implications for academic programmes of universities. It has now become the practice for some academics to deal directly with the Minister and the Ministry, bypassing the university bodies and also the UGC. Of course, the UGC has not helped by actively ceding its role to the Minister and the Ministry, but academics need to insist that the UGC fulfils its mandate. Issues that should be dealt with at university level by Faculty Boards and Senates, are now being decided upon by the Minister. The gradual erosion of established systems and procedures through ceding too much authority to the political leadership is a serious problem in Sri Lanka. We must recognise our own complicity in this process and be aware of its dangers.

Finally, its actions over the past several months have put FUTA and university academics in the public eye. As many speakers on the 26th of April noted, in a way, this is a historic moment for FUTA and for university academics. It is coming forward as a strong voice not just on behalf of itself but on behalf of the broader public interests. This means that it has raised expectations not just among its own membership but among the public as well. When the last trade union action was called off, the public saw it as an admission of defeat by FUTA.

FUTA has decided to resort to trade union action again in the near future. This time around, the stakes are even higher: there are a few signs that the government may be prepared to give into FUTA demands on salary and other welfare issues of academics. The tone with which the Ministry is dealing with the academic community has also changed. There are no longer attacks on the academic community by the Minister of Higher Education like during the last trade union action. There was no doubt that the crudity of those attacks also helped to mobilise the academic community. What does this then mean at this juncture of the battle? Will FUTA and its membership decide not to persist with the broader agenda if its salary demands are met? If that happens, the academic community’s legitimacy and relevance in the eyes of the wider community will be seriously eroded. During the last year or so, the FUTA leadership and the academic community have worked hard to make themselves relevant after a period of long hibernation. This would be wasted if the current momentum is not sustained. Despite the superficial easing off of the cold war, this government has not in any way shown a serious interest in addressing the broader issues raised by academics regarding the problems in the state university system and education in general. It is important that we remind ourselves that this time around, we are not fighting only for ourselves but for the future of public higher education in Sri Lanka.