Mass support for FUTA ‘March’ swell

Tuesday, 25 September 2012 14:00, Lanka Truth

 

People’s support for the ‘March’ organized by the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) is growing day by day say reports.
The ‘March’ launched by FUTA demanding the government to allocate 6% of GNP for education in the country and solutions for several other grievances commenced from Galle yesterday (24th) and reached Ambalangoda in the evening.
The ‘March’ commenced its second phase today from Ambalandoda bus stand amidst a large gathering. The ‘March’ has passed Balapitiya and Ahungalla and has reached Kosgoda.
It is reported that people have gathered in large numbers on the side of the roads, encouraging university teachers and treating them to sweets and soft drinks. Students have queued up to salute their teachers who have joined the ‘March’ say reports.
Representatives of political parties joined the ‘March’ today as well. The President of National Trade Union Center (NTUC) K.D. Lal Kanthe, the National Organizer of Socialist Youth Union Bimal Ratnayake, Member for southern PC Nalin Hewage and the National Organizer of All Ceylon Fishermen’s Federation Ratna Gamage were present representing the JVP while representatives of several opposition political parties were present.
The second phase of the ‘March’ will end at Aluthgama. Tomorrow the next phase of the ‘March’ will commence from Aluthgama and will end at Kalutara.

Kelaniya lecturers refute claim they returned to work

Date:2012-09-26 04:16:00

By Aisha Nazim, Ceylon Today Refuting government’s claim that Kelaniya University dons  have reported to work, academics of the University yesterday  said they are ‘very much’ involved in the ongoing strike. The Federation of  University Teachers’ Association (FUTA)  spokesperson Dr. Mahim Mendis pointed out the medical  faculties of universities did not join the strike action; yet the Higher Education Ministry authorities continued to highlight the fact that  medical faculty academics of the Kelaniya University reported to work  regardless of the trade union action. “The medical faculties never took part in our continuous strike. So stating  that the Kelaniya University academics are not supportive of our demands  is misleading and untrue,” Dr. Mendis told Ceylon Today. Meanwhile, the University of Kelaniya Teachers’ Association (UoKTA) Joint  Secretary Professor Hemantha Sirisena vehemently denied their academics were reporting to work regardless of the collective trade union action. Issuing a media statement, Professor Sirisena asserted that despite the Higher  Education Minister’s statements that academic activities in the Kelaniya University  are functioning smoothly, academic programs including lectures, field work and practical programs  have been completely disrupted due to the strike. “The authorities claim the academic programmes are continuing smoothly is made  by using manipulated statistics in a malicious effort to mislead the general public and university students. This is another malicious effort to jeopardize FUTA’s trade  union action,” he charged. Meanwhile, Dr. Mendis said the medical faculties of the Universities of  Sri Jayawardenapura and Colombo will also join the strike action shortl

Second phase of the FUTA’s 118-km-long march from Galle to Colombo September 25, 2012, 12:00 pm

The tragedy of Universities

September 25, 2012, 7:41 pm , The Island


It is an unbelievable tragedy that in a country such as ours where education is highly valued, that the universities have remained closed for almost three months, without causing a public outcry. It reflects the new apathy of our people.

Since we are now approaching budget day and since there are persistent rumors of a cabinet reshuffle, I would like to make a few simple suggestions which may offer some hope of a settlement, even though they will be nowhere near the aspirations of FUTA and way above what the governments seems to want to do. It is more to do with reallocation of resources for more efficient use, rather than increasing resources for education in the immediate future.

1. Bring ALL of central government activity in education under one ministry – The Ministry of Education – as it used to be. This will include Universities, National schools, Vocational education (including technical education, agriculture, nursing, teacher training etc), Examinations, NIE and other similar institutions. There will be just one minister and one parliamentary secretary (junior minister). This will release a reasonable amount of resources now wasted in salaries and wages, rent, transport (vehicles) etc.

2. Effect similar economies in the Universities (abolish posts of Deputy Vice Chancellors etc) and in schools (abolish the myriad of non-teaching Deputy Principals etc.) releasing more staff for academic activities.

3. Items 1 and 2 above would be feasible if the policy makers do keep to their function, which is to formulate broad policy, without getting themselves burdened with unnecessary day-to-day activities.

4. Increase the salaries of all academic staff (in the Universities and schools) by a nominal 10%, with effect from 1st January 2012, with another projected increase of 10% from January 2013.

5. It should be possible to achieve all this if the government expenditure on education is increased to 3% of GDP from the present 1.9% with the next budget. There should be a simultaneous long-term commitment to increase it to 4% in 2013, 5% in 2014 and 6% in 2016.