Rajitha lashes out at FUTA

October 9, 2012, 10:24 pm , The Island

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday (09) lashed out at the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) for demanding the allocation of six per cent of the GDP for education, saying it was not feasible.

FUTA had presented a number of demands to the government and those demands were not implemented anywhere in the world, he said, adding that the Government had allocated 1.87 percent from the GDP but lecturers were requesting a six per cent allocation, which was untenable.

Sri Lanka had allocated a huge amount of funds for the entire education sector more than in other country and the government was already spending excessive amounts of funds on school education, higher education, vocational and industrial training, Dr. Senaratne said.

According to reports, the six per cent demand is based on a UNESCO recommendation which urges countries to invest 4 to 6 per cent of the GDP on ‘education for all’ depending on a country’s democratic and economic status.

Dr. Senaratne said, "Not even developed countries are allocating a high percentage such as 6 per cent for the education. In America only 5.4 per cent of GDP is allocated for the education and in Canada 5.1 percent, in Australia 5.2 percent and in India only 4 percent. But these developed countries are not providing free education and health."

"If the government acts according to lecturers’ dictates we will have to tax the public even more," the minister said.