University teachers are like sleeping giants – Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri

Saturday, 29 September 2012 08:50, Lanka Truth

University teachers are like sleeping giants says Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri. He further said the struggle launched under the theme ‘Protect State Education’ is going forward in leaps and bounds and university teachers steadfastly give leadership to this struggle.
Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, the President of Federation on University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) made these observations addressing the rally held after concluding the ‘March’ that continued for five days  at Hyde Park yesterday. The ‘March’ that commenced its fifth phase from Moratuwa marched to Hyde Park through Ratmalana, Dehiwela, Wellawatta and Bambalapitiya amidst blessings of thousands of people lining the route. Representatives of political parties, trade unions and of many mass organizations participated in the ‘March’.
Speaking further Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said, “Until now university teachers were considered as persons who collect signatures to fill newspaper advertisement asking for preference votes for candidates at elections. However, the struggle that has continued during the past three months has proved that university teachers cannot be used for agendas of political parties. This struggle is an auspicious sign for free education. It is the responsibility of university teachers to provide an intellectual leadership to the society. It is their duty to come forward to serve the society.  Some say we have cast aside the fundamental responsibility of education. However, we are engaged in a nobler task now than what we do in lecture halls, laboratories and libraries. We believe the force that we have invested to protect free education would not cease. We have been able to amass forces that cannot be brought together politically.
Education has been vigorously consumerized.  The government is aggravating its spending on useless projects and anti-social acts. As a result a deep crisis has developed in the education sector. Education should endow magnificence of the past to future generations. However, there are obstacles for this process. We are carrying out this struggle to fulfill this noble task.
We demand the government to allocate 6% of GDP for education. There is something we should state here. Any political party that hopes to come to power should pledge that this amount would be allocated for education. The rulers have been now made to accept the 6% slogan.  As a result they have started saying funds that is being spent for education in various ways is about 6% of the GDP. The Minister of Higher Education has indirectly helped us to strengthen our struggle. We say that the leader of the country has to take a decision now. He has to decide whether he falls into the dustbin of history undermining the great culture of this country or pay attention to resolve this issue.”
The Vice-President of FUTA Ven. Dhambara Amila Thero addressing the rally said, “We have not heard of a historical struggle that has been carried out by walking 120 kilometers for five days making great sacrifices. We have entered a dignified process of struggle using digital technology, classical knowledge and journalism to prevent education from degenerating. This struggle has drawn the attention of political parties and masses and given them inspiration. In the 40s our heroes struggled against imperialists demanding free education. They went round villages, making people aware. Heroes like Meththananda, Ven. Walpola Rahula Thera, Adhikram, Malalasekera lead this struggle. Mr. Kannangara presenting the free education act stated if it was adopted education that was an expensive commodity would become the inheritance of all, specially that of the proletariat. This is a very important statement for us in 2012. An environment is being created to make this right of all an inheritance of a few. This is why the patriotic masses have to fulfill the task of modern Meththanandas.”