UGC chief denies resignation bid, calls for national dialogue on higher education

May 27, 2012, 11:23 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe,the island

Chairman of the University Grants Commission, Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said yesterday that Sri Lanka needed a thorough dialogue on higher education as much focus was given only to the preliminary and secondary education at present.

Denying rumors that the UGC Chairman had tendered his resignation, Prof. Samaranayake said that some sections of the higher education sector wanted his resignation.

He said that a dialogue on higher education system should be held with the participation of all stakeholders.

"We will have to give much focus to university education," Prof. Samaranayake said.

He said Sri Lanka’s Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) – the youth between 18 and 24 years receiving higher education was 15%. It was 18% in India.

The UGC was planning to increase the GER to 20% and 30% by 2016 and 2020 respectively, Prof. Samaranayake said.

He said that action would be taken to develop the external degree programme with a view to increasing the GER.

"Some retrograde forces want to derail these programmes to achieve their political objectives," Prof. Samaranayake said, adding that they were responsible for spreading those rumours that he had resigned.