Over 22,900 qualify for universities

November 8, 2013, 10:22 pm ,The Island

By Nilantha Madurawala

The University Grants Commission yesterday released the cut-off marks for university admission for the academic year 2012/13. A total number of 22,943 students, who sat the GCE Advanced Level Examination last year qualified.

Of the 229,737 candidates who sat the examination, 144,816 got pass marks and 55,241 applied for university entrance under the normal intake system. The minimum ‘Z scores’ for selection to courses of study for each district and detailed information of course selections appear on Pages 5 and 9 of this newspaper today.

The results could also be accessed through www.admission.ugc.ac.lk, the Government Information Centre (Hotline 1919), sending SMS to 1919 using the format ugc<space>index number->send to 1919 or through the telephone Nos 0112695301, 0112695302, 0112692357 and 01122678731.

UGC gives U’grads 10-day vacation

November 6, 2013, 9:32 pm , the island

University Grants Commission chief Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, told The Island last night that undergraduates would be given a 10-day vacation beginning Nov. 8 due to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

She said that the UGC wanted to give the undergraduates an opportunity to participate in various activities connected with the event. Responding to a query she said that the UGC didn’t want to deprive those taking part, in various events, of lectures.

However, some undergraduates launched a protest campaign yesterday against the decision. They alleged that the government was closing down universities to prevent protests during the event.

Bhikku undergrads protest in Fort against Free Education Zones

October 30, 2013, 9:27 pm , the island


by Dasun Edirisinghe

A section of the protesting monks
Pic by Sujatha Jayaratne

The JVP affiliated Inter-University Bhikku Federation (IUBF) yesterday protested opposite the Fort Railway Station against setting up of ‘Free Education Zones’ in Sri Lanka to facilitate private investors in the education sector.
Convener of the IUBF, Kimbullewe Chandananda Thera said that the protest had ended peacefully and they would take it to the other parts of the country.

The present government had started the privatisation of education with a new approach different from what former UNP governments did from 1977, but their attempts, too, would be defeated, the Thera said, adding that they had also held a seminar at the public library auditorium as part of the agitation.

"Setting up of Free Education Zones here is similar to the introduction of free trade zones under the 1977 UNP government," Chandananda Thera said.

The government had, the Thera said, already planned to set up the first zone in Mirigama in the Gampaha District.

The proposed zones would be set up in five districts under a loan of USD 40 million from the World Bank, according to government sources, the student monk said.

Like casino tycoons, the private sector investors who set up their education institutions in the proposed zones, too, would enjoy special tax, land and loan facilities, the Thera said.

He said that extra funds for the project were scheduled to be allocated from the Budget 2014 to be presented to Parliament next month.

"Bhikkus and other students have sacrificed their lives in the past to protect the free education system of the country," Chandananda thera said, vowing that they would continue the protest until the government project was abandoned.

FUTA: Branches of foreign  universities are of no use

October 30, 2013, 10:03 pm , The Island


By Dasun Edirisinghe

In the wake of the JVP -led Socialist Student Union (SSU) handing over a petition against setting up a branch of a UK based university in Sri Lanka, the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) claimed that the university at issue was not among the top British higher educational institutions.

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told The Island that the University of Central Lancashire (UCL) had been opened in 1992.

He said that setting up a branch of that university in Sri Lanka would not help students gain a university experience, but only to buy a degree.

"Our politicians are abusing the names of foreign universities to sell degrees in Sri Lanka," Dr.  Dewasiri said adding that one could not get the real experience of a university at a branch.

Sri Lanka’s Higher Education Ministry was promoting degrees as a commodity among students and that would not help to create a knowledge hub, he said.

"If Sri Lanka becomes the knowledge hub of Asia, we will have to produce knowledgeable graduates, but the duty of these university branches will only be to issue a certificate on a particular skill," Dr. Dewasiri alleged.

The government’s plan to set up ‘Free Education Zones’ had only led to setting up more free trade zones, introduced by the UNP government after 1977, which were selling labour at small amounts, he said.

The senior academic said that after discussing with education sector trade unions, FUTA had decided to set up a Steering Committee to analyse the issue.

Speaking to The Island, on condition of anonymity, a senior doctor attached to the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA), told The Island that the University of Central Lancashire was not among the top 48 universities in the UK.

He said that the UK had 48 of the top 400 universities in the world, according to the most respected rankings, but the University of Central Lancashire was not one of them.

"According to a Britisher, who regularly writes to a Sri Lankan newspaper, even the majority of British people have never heard of that university," the doctor said.

National Organiser of the JVP affiliated Socialist Students’ Union Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that they now wanted to find out who was telling the truth – the British High Commission in Colombo or Minister Dissanayake.

Minister Dissanayake announced in Parliament, on October 09, that Prince Charles would lay the foundation stone for a branch of the University of Central Lancashire in Mirigama next month but that has since been denied by the BHC, Dr. Jayatissa said adding that minister Dissanayake’s statement in Parliament was clearly recorded in the Hansard.

"If the BHC statement is correct, then Minister Dissanayake has misled Parliament in his statement made in the first week of October," he said.

Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne, denying the JVP allegations, said that although the BHC in Colombo denied Prince Charles’ involvement in laying the foundation stone, for the construction of a branch of the UK based university, it was being set up here under the British government’s bilateral relations with Sri Lanka.

Dr. Navaratne said that the University of Central Lancashire might not be among the top UK universities, but it was a State-run university there.

"Opposition to it is directed by the enemies of the country," he said adding that Sri Lanka could save billions in foreign exchange by setting up branches of overseas universities here.

Broken promises: FUTA girds itself for the fray

October 20, 2013, 10:00 pm , The Island


By Dasun Edirisinghe

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has appointed a three-member committee, under its Ex-Co, to review the progress of the agreement entered into with the government when they stopped their 100-day-long strike last year.

FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri told The Island that except for two demands the government had failed to honour the promises given by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa in October, 2012, to redress their grievances.

"We will review the progress of the implementation of matters in the agreement at length," the FUTA President said, adding that they would decide on their future course of action at the next Ex-Co meeting after receiving the report on the progress from the three-member committee.

The university autonomy was a main point of the agreement, Dr. Dewasiri said. Politicians meddled with university affairs and the appointment of Colombo Vice Chancellor was a case in point, he alleged.

The senior academic said that Minister Rajapaksa had agreed to appoint a committee consisting of two members from the FUTA to resolve the problems of university teachers, under the Higher Education Ministry, but that promise had not yet been honoured, he said.

"They claim that the delay is due to our failure to appoint two FUTA members to the committee, but we submitted the two names some six months ago," Dr. Dewasiri said.

He said that in the agreement, the government promised to implement a five-year mid-term plan over their salary issues. FUTA expected the government to implement the first step through the November budget.

National policy on education: Paper presented to Parliament

*Central authority to monitor preschools
*A national TV channel for education
*Pvt. tuition during school hours banned
* A code of ethics for teachers

August 21, 2013, 10:39 pm , the island


By Saman Indrajith

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday presented to Parliament ‘New Educational Policies and Proposals for General Education in Sri Lanka’, based on proposals presented to the Special Parliamentary Select Committee on Education. It had been suggested that the state should allocate five per cent of GDP for education through its budget, he said.

Minister Gunawardena presenting the paper said that the proposals were based on suggestions that had been made before a committee comprising 23 members of parliament belonging to both the government and the Opposition.

Various organisations, doctors, members of parliament, principals and teachers, university dons, old students’ associations and other parties connected to education numbering around 1,000 had made presentations before the committee, the minister said.

The draft paper was presented to the House so that a new national policy on education could be formulated for the benefit of schoolchildren numbering four million. Those policies would survive changes of governments, the minister said, adding that he was seeking the approval of all members of parliament for such an education policy.

Among its recommendations are:

* Preschool education should be monitored by a central authority.

* Education should be made compulsory for children from 5-16 years.

* Children should have the right to learn and practise their religion in school.

* The syllabi, learning, teaching process, timetables, etc. should be updated every five years in keeping with global trends and the teachers trained.

* A national television channel for education should be established.

* Examination Act No 25 of 1968 should be revised.

* Classifying schools in various ways should be stopped.

* Schoolchildren should be banned from using cellular phones.

* Holding private tuition classes during school hours should be prohibited and students should be banned from attending them during school hours.

* A code of ethics for teachers should be drawn up and established.

U’grads accuse admin. of suppression to make way for SB’s plans

August 21, 2013, 10:10 pm , the island

By Dasun Edirisinghe

The pro–JVP Socialist Students’ Union (SSU) yesterday claimed that Sabaragamuwa University administration was suppressing students to make way for Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake’s ‘sinister’ plans.

SSU Convener Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that so far, from 2011, 70 undergraduates had been suspended without proper reasons being given.

He said that all suspended students had been unable to sit their examinations and one of them, the former President of the Agriculture Faculty Students’ Union, had even been assaulted by government thugs.

"The university administration has started to suppress students by prohibiting all students’ unions including the Students’ Council on January 01, 2011," Dr. Jayatissa said, adding that the University Act of 1978 enabled students to form unions and stage protests.

He said that the university administration had suspended 58 undergraduates including 15 female students from Jan. 31, 2011 to March 2013.

However, students had revived the unions after protests, but the Students’ Council and all Faculty Unions had been suspended once again on March 15, 2013, Dr. Jayatissa said, adding that five students including the President and Secretary of the Students’ Council had also been suspended. "When students protest against the ban on unions and suspensions, the university administration get the police to disperse peaceful protest by firing rubber bullets and water canon, which resulted in 60 undergraduates being injured on June 01."

Police had also arrested nine students for organizing the protest and the university administration had suspended another 47 students for being involved in the protest, Dr. Jayatissa said.

He said another 17 students had been suspended on Aug. 3, and former President of the Agriculture Faculty Students’ Union brutally assaulted in a hostel.

"We demand that the academic freedom of students be ensured," Dr. Jayatissa said, adding that universities must not be run like torture chambers.

 

Dons abandon trade union action against Colombo VC

June 13, 2013, 10:10 pm

by Dasun Edirisinghe, the island

The Colombo University Teachers’ Association (CUTA), which at the end of May threatened an all-out strike within two weeks, if newly appointed Vice Chancellor did not step down from the post, have given up their demand as they lack support.

University sources told The Island yesterday that the scheduled strike would not be staged due to the faculty teachers’ unions not supporting the trade union action.

A section of Colombo University teachers opposed the appointment of new VC, Dr. Wijaya Kumara Hirimburegama, who assumed duties on May 27, claiming that it was politically motivated and unethical as his wife was serving as the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

On condition of anonymity, a senior academic, attached to the Colombo University, said that the CUTA’s decision to stop all correspondence with the Vice Chancellor, too, had failed.

"Earlier, we planned not to accept memos or letters from the newly appointed VC, but we cannot do it because the majority of teachers do not like to do so," he said, adding that they could not boycott the meetings with the VC either, as planned earlier.

However, that did not mean that the CTUA accepted Dr. Hirimburegama’s appointment as VC, he said.

The academic said that some teachers believed that it was an appointment made by President Mahinda Rajakapska and it could

not be reversed even if they protested. Another faction of teachers was afraid of being victimised by the university administration for openly fighting against the VC.

The reversed decision would be announced at a future media conference scheduled for the last week of the month, the sources said.

Kelaniya don’s petition  dismissed

June 5, 2013, 10:26 pm , the island

by Chitra Weerarathne

The Court of Appeal recently dismissed the Writ Application, filed by Prof. M. D. Amerasinghe, Head of the Department of Botany of the Faculty of Science at the University of Kelaniya against the appointment of Prof. D. D. S. Kulatunga as the Dean of the Faculty of Science of the same University by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sarath Amunugama, in January 2012.

In his judgment President of the Court of Appeal, Justice S. Sriskandarajah, explained that, in the present case, merely a complaint had been made and a criminal case instituted in the Magistrate’s Court. But, the second respondent, Prof. D. D. S. Kulatunga had not been convicted in the proceedings of the magisterial inquiry. The court had observed that the departmental inquiry revealed that there was no evidence to convict Prof. Kulatunga for any charge brought against him.

In the circumstances, the first respondent, Vice Chancellor, could not be faulted for not taking any steps against the second respondent, Prof. Kulatunga, who had been the Head of the Department of Mathematics and entitled to contest for the post of the Dean, Faculty of Science. At the election, he had been elected as the Dean of the Faculty. In the circumstances, the Vice Chancellor had no option but to appoint Prof. Kulatunga the Dean of the Science Faculty. Hence, the appointment could not be challenged as ultra vires of the provisions of law or on the ground of procedural irregularity. Therefore, the Court of Appeal dismissed the petition, but without cost.

N. Kodituwakku appeared for the petitioner Professor Mala D. Amerasinghe. The Deputy Solicitor General, Neil Unambuwe, appeared for the respondents.

Govt. tackles student issues in highhanded manner – FUTA

June 5, 2013, 10:11 pm , the island

By Dasun Edirisinghe

The government’s crushing of Sabaragamuwa University undergraduates’ protest last Saturday proved its overall plan to manipulate and control universities according to its whims and fancies and to gradually destroy the state education system, Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) claimed yesterday.

Addressing a media briefing at the Open University of Sri Lanka, FUTA President Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri said that it was extremely important to engage constructively and critically with students regarding their collective actions.

"We unreservedly condemn the violent response of the authorities to students’ protest and call upon them to adopt a more flexible approach in dealing with student issues," he said.

 Dr. Dewasiri said that the government’s response was extremely provocative and high-handed. Even violent demonstrations and fasts by members close to the government were dealt with completely differently when compared to how student demonstrations and protests were handled.

Banning of student unions of the Sabaragamuwa University few months ago was a violation of the democratic rights of students, the FUTA chief said, adding that they believed that the crisis that had developed over the last few days was yet another consequence of the short-sighted measures of university authorities in responding to student protests.

"Our attention is drawn to two aspects in relation to this situation: firstly, the response of the university administration to student protests and secondly the response of the police and government authorities to student protests," Dr. Dewasiri said, noting that they had found that the university administration police as well as government authorities had comprehensively failed to respond effectively and appropriately to the situation that has arisen due to student protests.

The senior academic also said that the Teachers’ Union of Sabaragamuwa University had grave concerns about student behaviour in the buildup and during the series of protests. However, that did not justify the anti-democratic and aggressive response of the authorities to the student protest, Dr. Dewasiri said. 

The police riot squad finally dispersed the protesters with the liberal use of tear gas after they blocked the Badulla–Colombo highway for about six hours.