Monday, April 16, 2012

Jobs and sustainable growth

, The Island.

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By Dinesh Weerakkody         

My topic today is about graduate unemployment. Much has been said about graduate unemployment by some of the other speakers. Graduate unemployment is nothing new to most people like us in the private sector.

What is perhaps new, and challenging, is the persistent nature of the problem. In the past, the problem was more cyclical and demand-related in nature. To many of us the job mismatch in the country, it seems to be more structural than private sector related.

While many factors have been cited as contributors to this problem such as poor communication skills, relevant commercial experience, analytical and commercial skills and the flexibility/attitude of graduates. The entire higher education delivery clearly merits a total review.

The vehicle to a higher level of development of a country’s economy lies in the general educational achievement and attainment of its country’s citizens. It is proven also by statistical data, that educational attainment is one thing and the right preparation for the world of work is quite another.

The ability of students to succeed is determined, not only by the qualifications they get and the number of years that they attend school, but also by the quality and relevance of what they learn to the ever-changing employment market and technological advances.

Employers of Talent…

The other important issue for all of us is the employment prospects of our graduates. That is of primary importance, not only to the individual graduates themselves, but also to all employers of talent in this country.

Therefore to enhance the potential of graduates and the employability of graduates in the short term the university system should concurrently run programs to improve the writing and communication skills of undergraduates during their academic tenure and expose them to the Internet to promote self-development.

In addition, they should look to provide on the job training to the undergraduates during the University vacations so that they get some experience and also to get a feel of what the private sector would expect from them when they work for them. Some time ago the university authorities introduced three-week leadership training for university entrants as a component of orientation program that includes IT and English.

In-fact many of the academics, parents and students who were satisfied with the training program now want this to be introduced even to the G.C.E. Advanced level and also to many other students studying at various higher educational institutions run by the state.

So going forward to have sustainable growth new jobs have to be created over the next few years in order to generate above average economic growth and maintaining social cohesion. This would require targeted measures to support job growth in the economy by the policy makers and the private sector revving up the main engine of job creation.

(The writer is a company director)

Parents of private medical college students threaten fast

, The Island

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The parents of the medical students of the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (private medical college) have decided to urge the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) to drop its opposition to it and to show any shortcomings still existing in it for correction.

The gazette notification recognizing it issued on August 30, 2011 has recognized student batches enrolled from that date, but students in one to four batches who enrolled earlier have not been included in the notification.

If the parents of the medical students did not receive a favourable response to their appeal, they had decided to stage a fast until the degree is recognized by the relevant authorities, Malabe PMC Parent Association Chairman Dr. Ms. Samanthika Mendis told media conference at Narahenpita Women’s Centre last week.

Dr. Ms. Mendis said that an injustice had been meted out to its one to four batches, because those four batches were enrolled before August 30, 2011. The Parents Association had also made a complaint to the Sri Lanka Human Right Commission regarding the injustice.

She said out that the parents of PMC students were professionals, most of them were doctors. The Parents’ Association was of the view that by providing a medical education locally Sri Lanka could save a substantial amount of foreign exchange. The GMOA, since the inception of the school, had objected to the project for unknown reasons.

"We, as parents, decided to enter our daughters and sons with the best intentions. That is to receive a medical education without sending them to foreign countries. There may have been some omission and commissions, but they have to be put down to our over eagerness to ensure that our children get a better medical education," Dr. Ms. Mendis stressed.

When contacted GMOA General Secretary Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa said that it was a folly to stage a fast to win their demands. The GMOA would never recognize any degree awarded by the Malabe PMC, because the SAITM did not have basic facilities like a hospital for medical students to engage in clinical practice.

Dr. Epitakaduwa added that the SAITM would be entirely responsible for the fast of the parents. In case something happened to any parents, the SAITM management would be responsible.