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SAITM issue could have lasting impact on medical education: FUTA

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1 July 2017 02:30 pm - 32     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) yesterday warned that issues involving the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) would have a lasting impact on medical education in State universities, leading to a delay in the conduct of degree courses.

FUTA Additional Secretary Dr. Athulasiri Samarakoon told Daily Mirror that many university students now boycott lectures to participate in protests against SAITM and that this had been going on for too long.

“This will State universities badly, leading to considerable delays in students passing out as well as delaying future enrolments of students to State universities,” he said.

While condemning the suppression of university students by the government, Dr. Samarakoon said the government should provide a reasonable and clear solution to the SAITM issue without prolonging it any further for the sake of the country.

He also said the discussions among the university teachers were ongoing regarding the action that should be taken in the future. “University teachers attached to several medical faculties had recently gone on strike to protest against SAITM,” he said. (Kalathma Jayawardhane)


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  Comments - 32

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  • Peter Saturday, 01 July 2017 06:56 PM

    For 6 months boycott of lectures by med.students didn't make any impact on govt.position but by 3days of doctors strike made president to sit and discuss with doctors.As seniors ,a group known value of medical education, matured and an intelligent lot, doctors should advise students to temporarily stop the boycott and start learning meantime time to time join rallies to maintaining the momentum or otherwise doctors can start their non stop strike without bothering what ever the end result would be.Here my suggestion to doctors is take one step back at this moment , it would be very sensible and great leap forward for ending the struggle by nationalizing saitam.

    Chita Thursday, 06 July 2017 09:43 AM

    Here we tell them, you are already late but without been scapegoats and unnecessary crush between Doctors and the government stop your boycott give' like' to this comment

    lkboy Monday, 03 July 2017 10:11 AM

    Then who will teach? You?

    Peter Sunday, 02 July 2017 07:42 PM

    But rajitha senaratna is above him ne

    Mahen Sunday, 02 July 2017 05:03 PM

    William,you have uncovered the Truth.

    De Silva Saturday, 01 July 2017 09:34 PM

    Huta !!!!!

    palitha Saturday, 01 July 2017 09:05 PM

    SAITM must be nationalized. Nevelle Fernando is running a degree printing shop with the support of crook politicians.

    AjithZ Saturday, 01 July 2017 08:32 PM

    Chandra, wonder whether you listened to the the discussion one of the students had recently in one of the tv channels. These poor kids are being terrorized by some group. They just can't survive without towing the line of this group.

    Senarath Saturday, 01 July 2017 08:31 PM

    The issue has many folds, JVP and Peratugami are trying to apply their outdated leftist theory which world has refused with GMOA who keep innocent poor patients hostages , JVP always had the practice of getting their things done by force. Government is dragging, Joint Opposing doing double game, GMOA is applying Shylock theory as in the fast, they obstructed higher education of RMPs, Nurses and Para medics and under graduates (Para medical).Government should have a dialog only with the Medical Council and find a solution

    Mandy Saturday, 01 July 2017 08:24 PM

    Sri Lanka civil society is very weak - only a few interested - others wait for someone to do what they should do themselves. I fully agree that Sri Lanka is ruled by different mafias - Trade Unions, GMOA, FUTA, IUSF and others. The common public of over 75% is helpless - they suffer in silence because they do not want to get involved unless it is a problem on their own doorstep - like civil protests we see on and off.

    jayasingha Saturday, 01 July 2017 08:16 PM

    Govt must ensure that there is no over supply of doctors and specialist doctors in the country at the expense of quality and dog eat dog competition in this important field. If there is over supply it will not be a win -win situation for the doctors as well as patients. Govt: and private universities if established must be monitored by an independent state approved body ( UGC) according to recognized criteria and standards. The govt must plan for required number of doctors necessary over a period of time to ensure correct discipline, quantity and quality to ensure a healthy nation. For this the SLMC must be made more independent and given sufficient powers outside the health ministers authority.

    chandare Saturday, 01 July 2017 08:11 PM

    SAITM also a need of group of people.

    Kamal Saturday, 01 July 2017 08:07 PM

    My opinion is take over the SAITM to defense ministry. the students are recruited to it under the Ministry of Defense and get a agreement to service to Army, Nave and Air force.after they graduate they could work in Hospital belongs to the forces (Camps). generally camps are distributed in all over the country. General public also possible to take consultancy from them.when the Trade Union action of the GMOA that hospital can use the public

    SL Saturday, 01 July 2017 08:05 PM

    The gvt do not want to solve this issue ,if they want to do private medical faculties set up acceptable rules as experts says,Rajitha or Kiriella who has not knowledge can not deiced up on.Issues is that these two grudes are spoiling the system for their benefits .I have many friends who are my friends they have enough examples of low grade doctors from Bangladesh,India and Russia has done serious mistakes which are less occurrence with gvt university doctors.One has run away with midway open heart surgery leaving the patient on the death raw.

    Dutugamunu1 Saturday, 01 July 2017 07:38 PM

    What is the solution you al are suggesting? Nationalize or to abolish it.Please check what you all including GMOA said About SAITAM few moths back., it was mentioned that low standard, Students are not passed the A/L, These students are not going to sit for an examination, very high course fees etc.The government has given a fair solution to all these allegations but still, GMOA want a pound of flesh.That is to abolish it Why don't you suggest to abolish all other private degree awarding institutes also.

    TONY Saturday, 01 July 2017 07:25 PM

    WHO WILL EXPLAIN TO THE UNI STUDENTS TO LET GMOA AND GOVT SORT OUT THE SAITM ISSUE AND CONCENTRATE ON THEIR STUDIES INSTEAD OF FALLING PREY TO GMOA AND GO ON PROTESTS

    chandra Saturday, 01 July 2017 10:39 AM

    You understand the problem of mass and student but government only understand difficulty of Dr. NF. That is what government taken over loss making Nevil Fernando hospital. via DM Android App

    AliG Saturday, 01 July 2017 06:55 PM

    I agree with you whole heartedly. I have made this point several times but it has not been published for some reason. It's not only students who are terrorised, it's their families as well. The vicious group you are referring to are the GMOA and JVP thugs in their midst. By the way, it's not millions going out of the country, it's billions of rupees. We can scream until we are hoarse, but those in power are not listening or else sterner action would be taken against IUSF and GMOA parasites. In 2014-2015, Australia made 18 Billion Dollars, yes eighteen, from foreign students.

    Pf Saturday, 01 July 2017 06:50 PM

    Executive President can take over SAITM at no cost.He will do it soon. via DM Android App

    B S Perera Saturday, 01 July 2017 06:34 PM

    Parents who are in front of the Fort Station had some visitors - well-wishers. Vijitha Herath, one JO member, one Pertugami member ... This shows the real colour of this struggle. JVP has to show their support because rival Peratugami is there and their struggle is to pull back the students to their side. All these parties were silent when MR was the king.

    Nishali Eknayaka Saturday, 01 July 2017 04:20 PM

    I would like also to state that I have spoken to some Colombo Med Fac students- who are kids of family friends, They are all saying, Aunty, we don't want to cut lectures, we hate this violence, we want to go back to classes. But they went on to say that there is a very violent and vicious group within, who are terrorizing them in to cutting classes and forcing them to join protests. Why cant the parents (at least the doctor parents) find out who these terrible students are and take some action? I feel sorry for all the other students just wasting their time and also being pushed to endangering themselves.AND Why is the SAITM and its students being blamed for the fact that the Government university students are cutting classes? Neither the SAITM nor its students are obstructing them.Hundreds of SL students are studying in Med colleges abroad. Millions of rupees of our money are thus sent abroad (For E.g.: Manipal India- the course fee and lodging costs roughly around 30 Million. UK n

    naradha Saturday, 01 July 2017 04:18 PM

    Education policy of a country should not be based on needs of a group of people who makes a big noise and are jealous of students getting education from institutions other than universities funded by the tax payers. What really needs to be done at this hour is to open up 10-15 private universities in parallel with state universities to meet the current demand for tertiary education needs of the country.

    pinata iganagena Saturday, 01 July 2017 03:53 PM

    Yes. Eventually private universities will be better than state universities.

    William Saturday, 01 July 2017 03:41 PM

    Studying Medicine Is Popular Is Because Of The Artificial Doctor Title They Get For A Bachelor Degree.

    karu Saturday, 01 July 2017 03:34 PM

    Dear FUTA friends,Please wait until the YAHAPANAYA government hangs on the SAITM and suicide themselves.

    bushel Saturday, 01 July 2017 03:11 PM

    CHANDRA, THEN LET US UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT AND SUPRESS STUDENTS AND MASS

    citizen Saturday, 01 July 2017 02:58 PM

    They can make it mostly free and run at a loss like all govt. hospitals which bring in no revenue

    Sofia Saturday, 01 July 2017 02:45 PM

    No govt had to take over SAITM to satisfy GMOA IUSF and Futa all backed by JO who initiated and nurtured SAITM..

    THE HYlo Saturday, 01 July 2017 02:42 PM

    It's not saitm nor the govt fault that these lasting effects are inevitable. It's because of the university students boycotting lectures. They shouldn't do so.

    MyLanka Saturday, 01 July 2017 02:40 PM

    So what they're sugesting is that the Government should give in to militant Unions? Government has given a reasonable solution but GMOA wants it all their way. The idea is to bring the government to it's knees. Why don't you advice the students to return to their tax payer funded education instead of going along with their totally unreasonable demands and destruction of public property.

    Patriot Saturday, 01 July 2017 02:39 PM

    Yes SAITM will have lasting POSITIVE impact on our nation. There will be many more such institutions who will have better quality of education and produce better doctors. We will have a doctor to population ratio that compares with the best in the world. Look at the sorry state of our education systems. We cant produce text books without errors, we cant set an exam paper without errors. Look at the world, Indians are the best all over. There was a time we believed our education standards are ahead of India. Now they are light years ahead. We still live in wells. Look ahead and concentrate on developing our country not our purses.

    brainmaster Saturday, 01 July 2017 01:38 PM

    The salaries of the University teachers who go on strike should not be paid. via DM Android App


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