Dons asked to justify their clamour for more

June 29, 2012, 9:08 pm , the island

The Higher Education Ministry Secretary in a letter addressed to academic staff members of all universities yesterday said that the latter’s struggle for salary increases did not have the element of social justice, as during the last two years, the salaries of academic staff members had been increased by an average of 66 percent.

Education Secretary Dr Sunil Jayantha Navaratne says in his letter: "I request you to ask yourself how you could justify your demand for another salary hike so soon. During the years 2011 and 2012 a salary of a senior professor increased by 73.88 percent while a professor’s salary had been increased by 69.73 percent. Salaries of a senior lecturer and a lecturer had been increased by 61.13% and 53.39%. Generally all the salaries of academic staff members have been increased by an average of 66%.

"In addition the payments for preparing question papers of university students have been increased by 400 percent this year. The payment for evaluating question papers of internal students by university teachers too had been increased by 400% and those of post graduate students by 150 percent. The payment for conducting visiting lectures also had been increased 200 percent.

"The government has also increased the credit limit of loans provided to university teachers and these loans are provided at a very lower interest rate. The government had doubled the budgetary allocations for the higher education sector in the last five years, the letter says.

"Therefore, I request you not to fall praay to those in the academic community who are acting on hidden agendas to further their personal interests. It seems that the main objective of these rabble rousers is to lead the country towards anarchy and to weaken institutional capacity of the country’s university system. Taking into consideration the increases of salaries made in the last two years, I request you to consider how you could reason out to the society the social justice element in the ongoing struggle for more increments," the letter addressed to all academic members through the Vice Chancellors of universities said."

Vice Chancellors tell FUTA why it shouldn’t strike

June 28, 2012, 9:33 pm , the island

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors has said that because academics have received substantial increase in remuneration and other benefits they shouldn’t disrupt universities.

The Committee was responding to Federation of University Teachers’ (FUTA) threat to launch an indefinite strike on July 4, 2012 demanding a salary increase and allocation of 6 per cent of the GDP to education. Chairman of the Committee Prof. Susirith Mendis has said that there is still an opportunity for negotiations with the government.

The following is the statement issued by Prof. Mendis consequent to a special meeting of the Committee held on Monday.

* Since the non academic trade union action has already disrupted academic activities of the universities, the impending trade union action by FUTA will continue to disrupt and seriously aggravate the situation adversely affecting free education;

* This will delay the admission of new students to the universities as well as the graduation of university students;

* This will result in waste of valuable academic expertise and other resources of the universities;

* This will seriously tarnish the credibility of the academics in the eyes of the public;

* This will erode the public confidence and superior positions maintained by the national universities as the premier providers of higher education in Sri Lanka and

* The academics have recently received substantial increases in remuneration and other benefits.

Vice Chancellors and Directors of Sri Lankan universities speak against union action

Wed, Jun 27, 2012, 10:14 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
 
Jun 27, Colombo: The Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Directors Sri Lanka (CVCD) has come out against the trade union action planned by the university academics.
The CVCD issuing a statement has pointed out that the trade union action recently launched by the non-academic staff in universities has disrupted academic activities and that the planned action by the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) would also affect the university functions.
The committee has also pointed out that the union action would also delay the admission of new students and delay the graduation of university students and this will aggravate the public.
The statement notes, "Since the non-academic trade union action has already disrupted academic activities of the universities, the impending trade union action by FUTA will continue to disrupt and seriously aggravate the situation adversely affecting free education."
"This will delay the admission of new students to the universities as well as the graduation of university students; this will result in wastage of valuable academic expertise and other resources of the universities; This will seriously tarnish the credibility of the academics in the eyes of the public; This will erode the public confidence and superior positions maintained by the national universities as the premier providers of higher education in Sri Lanka," the statement said.
"The academics have recently received substantial increases in remuneration and other benefits," the CVCD pointed out.
The CVCD has also noted that opportunities still exist for negotiations with the state authorities before embarking on the proposed trade union action.
The FUTA has vowed to go ahead with the planned strike on July 04.

SB Stands by Z- Score .

Tuesday, 26 June 2012 17:52, Daylimirror

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake today reiterated that the Z- score system devised by the UGC was the best method that would cause the “least difficulties”. “We stand by the system devised by five eminent professors that this system would cause the least amount of difficulties and would ensure fairness among all students” he said.

However the Minister said that they would abide by the decision of the Supreme Court. “We agree with the decision of the Supreme Courts, but we are considering appealing against the decision and are currently consulting our lawyers” he said.

DIssanayake made these remarks addressing a press conference flanked by Proffessor Samaranayake the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Prof. Saratah Kulathunga of the Kelaniya University and member of the five member panel that prepared the z score system this year,

 Dissanayake when asked if he would resign oHigher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake today reiterated that the Z- score system devised by the UGC was the best method that would cause the “least difficulties”. “We stand by the system devised by five eminent professors that this system would cause the least amount of difficulties and would ensure fairness among all students” he said.

However the Minister said that they would abide by the decision of the Supreme Court. “We agree with the decision of the Supreme Courts, but we are considering appealing against the decision and are currently consulting our lawyers” he said.

DIssanayake made these remarks addressing a press conference flanked by Proffessor Samaranayake the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and Prof. Saratah Kulathunga of the Kelaniya University and member of the five member panel that prepared the z score system this year,

 Dissanayake when asked if he would resign on this issue as requested by the UNP said “I can’t answer those questions please ask him” referring to the General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake.

Cartoon of the day, The Island

Intelligentsia shocked by actions against FUTA President

June 27, 2012, 10:16 pm , the island


By Ifham Nizam

Intellectuals and trade unions yesterday expressed concern over the recent intimidation and suspicious actions against Federation of University Teachers’ Unions, (FUTA) President, Dr. Nimal Ranjith Devasiri, who is also the Secretary of the Arts Faculty Teachers Union of the Colombo University.

Executive Editor of the Subavitha Magazine Mahinda Rathnayake told The Island yesterday that such tactics were clearly against democracy.

He said that the method of approach to intimidate a University Don sends a clear signal that it was not a personal move against an individual but against those who try to win their rights and work towards justice.

Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union, Vice Chairman, Keshara Kottegoda Withana said that the attempt was meant to send signals suppressing democratic rights which was not a healthy sign. "We vehemently oppose such moves," he added.

He also said that the group of people who had identified themselves as members of the Ministry of Defense, visited the neighbourhood in which Dr. Devasiri resided, and made inquiries about him and his family, in an attempt to intimidate them.

A jeep without a proper license plate was seen parked near his house. The action prompted Dr. Devasiri to lodge a complaint with the Maharagama police, he said.

He expressed hope that the police would take action against those involved in intimidating Dr. Devasiri.

In a letter addressed to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa copied to IGP N. K. Illangakoon, Professor Asanga Tilakaratne, President of the AFTU-CU stated:

"It has been brought to our notice that a group of men claiming to be from the Ministry of Defence have been behaving suspiciously within the neighbourhood of the Secretary of Arts Faculty Teachers’ Union (AFUTA), Dr. Nirmal Ranjith on June 19, 2012. They have questioned neighbours regarding Dr. Devasiri’s movements and details regarding his family. Dr. Devasiri has lodged a complaint with this regard at the Maharagama police Station on 21.06.2012.

"We are deeply concerned about this and request you to immediately launch an investigation into this matter."

Withana also noted that the University Teachers’ Union had been working to improve the livelihoods of university teachers, notably by campaigning for wage increases and improved working conditions. The Minister of Higher Education, S. B. Dissanayake had publicly opposed those efforts.

Trade unionists and political activists who campaign for wage increases and the improvement of working conditions were frequently threatened, and even, physically attacked, Withana added.

Education Minister refuses to budge

June 27, 2012, 12:00 pm , the island



by Dasun Edirisinghe

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday that there was no need for him to resign as he did not commit any wrong.

He was responding to the JVP’s and teacher trade unions’ demand for him to resign over the ‘Z–score’ fiasco.

"I was the third respondent in the ‘Z–score’ case and the examinations chief was the first respondent," Gunawardena said adding that the Supreme Court cleared them without any punishment.

Gunawardena said that the Examination Department calculated the ‘Z–score’ of the GCE (A/L) 2011 results based on the method given by the experts committee appointed by the University Grants Commission.

He said that the examinations department was not responsible for the ‘Z–score’ fiasco.

According to the Supreme Court order, the ‘Z–score’ of the two syllabi should be cal culated separately, the minister said adding that so far the UGC had not told the examination department to carry out the re-calculation.

Gunawardena said that the examinations department holds three major examinations, grade V scholarship, GCE (O/L) and GCE (A/L), per year.

"Our duty is to hold exams and evaluate papers," he said adding that the UGC was the authority for admitting students to universities and that was why they provided guidelines to make the ‘Z–score’.

The examination department calculated the ‘Z–score’ earlier using the formula given by the UGC, but the Court asked it to do it separately for the two syllabi, the minister said.

Now, the department was awaiting the new formula given by the Supreme Court, Gunawardena said.

UGC claims Uni. teachers given unusual pay hike

June 26, 2012, 9:54 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

The University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday said that the government had granted an unusual salary hike to university teachers and asked them to call off the strike scheduled to begin on July 04.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, UGC Chief Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said that according to revised salary structures, the salaries of senior professors, professors, assistant professors, senior lecturer grade I, senior lecturer Grade II, lecturer and probationary lecturers had been increased by 73.88 per cent, 69.73 per cent, 66.12 per cent, 61.13 per cent, 58.68 per cent, 52.39 per cent and 36.64 per cent respectively from October 12, 2012.

He said that they also increased the paper marking allowance from Rs. 20 to Rs. 100, visiting lecture fees from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,500.

Addressing the same press conference, Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake said most of senior lecturers were against the scheduled strike, but others forced them to join the strike.

"According to our information, lecturers of some faculties of universities countrywide would not join the strike," he said.

The minister said even the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors too were against the scheduled strike by university teachers and had asked to solve the problems through negotiations.

Dissanayake said that the government offered them an unbelievable salary hike despite doctors and judges demanding a salary hike too.

He said that the government also provided them with a housing loan scheme.

 

Non-academic staff call off strike

June 26, 2012, 9:46 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

University non-academic staff called off their strike last night after signing an agreement with the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Labour Commissioner.

Media spokesman of the Inter University Trade Union Joint Committee Wijayathilaka Jayasinghe told The Island that the UGC had promised to rectify their salary anomalies within 45 days and issue a circular to that effect.

Non-academic staff launched the strike on June 06.

UGC experts stand by their method, but honour SC decision

June 26, 2012, 9:45 pm 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the islnd

The UGC appointed experts panel, which prepared the combined Z-score for the two syllabi, yesterday insisted that they were still of the firm belief that their decision was the most fair method for students who sat the A/L examination in 2011.

Addressing a media conference at the UGC auditorium, flanked by Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake and UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake, a member of the experts panel, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga, said that they had calculated the Z–score separately and deeply investigated it first.

"But it was more unfair to students," he said adding that it was the reason to go ahead with their second method to merge the Z–score of two syllabi.

The experts committee included Prof. K. R. M. T. Karunaratne of Sri Jayewardenepura University, Prof. Sarath Kulatunga of Kelaniya University, Prof. Sarath Peiris of Moratuwa University, Dr. Sarath Banneheka of Sri Jayewardenepura University and Dr. Dilhari Atygalle of the Colombo University.

Prof. Kulatunga said they however honoured the Supreme Court decision.

UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake said that they would implement the Supreme Court order immediately, but would have to go to the Court again for some clarifications.

The Examination Department had the authority to calculate the Z–scores and issue the results, he said.

"But the Supreme Court issued the directive to us," Prof. Samaranayake said adding they would go to Court again to clarify whether it should be done by the UGC or the Examination Department.

He said that sometimes they might have to call for applications again for university admissions, but declined to comment further.

Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake said that their lawyers were now working on the matter.