Maithripala wants to end free education-Bandula

3 January 2015 03:12 am - 42 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana yesterday claimed that the proposed policies of the Common Opposition Candidate were a step towards the end of the free education system in the country.

He said Common Opposition Candidate Maithripala Sirisena’s manifesto has proposed a soft bank loan scheme for A/L qualified students who fail university entrance by a whisker.
He blamed the media, the Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA), the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) and other students, parents and the public for not raising the alarm.
The minister told a news briefing that free education would come to an end by creating a soft bank loan scheme for students to pursue education at private institutions.
He criticized the proposal to integrate Private Schools in the free education system.
“This is the end of free education which existed for nearly eight decades in Sri Lanka. The future of the 4.5 million student population, 170,000 teachers and nearly 10,000 public schools is at risk. But sadly no one raises a whimper about this catastrophe and I do not understand why even the media is silence on this. I hope the media will educate the public on this dangerous move before January 8,” the minister said.
When a journalist pointed out that even now there were more than 100 first degree, diploma and post graduate degree programmes offered as fee-levying courses at the 15 universities and that the only difference was to grant a soft loan for higher studies, the minister said they were external courses.
The minister said the proposal was a part of the new education programme of the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran in line with Eelam ideology which envisages to put an end to the national school system and not to teach the mother tongue but all other languages from grade one onwards.
He said they also want a separate unit for education exclusively in the North including universities not responsible to the central government.

Q Mr. Minister, some 100 degree and diploma programmes in the university system are on a fee levying basis. The difference is that students can obtain a soft bank loan which is highly beneficial to them.
A. No, those are external degrees. This attempt is to offer those courses as internal degrees and thereby privatise university education.
Q Then how can a poor student pursue university education. This loan scheme is aimed at giving a soft bank loan to students who could not afford higher studies.
A. This is the end of free education that existed since 1945 and we must oppose it. The media must educate the public about this disaster.(Sandun A Jayasekera)

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Comments - 42

premalal Saturday, 03 January 2015 02:06 PM

The proliferation of international schools and private hospitals is a reflection of the so called free education and health.

.M.O.A.Careem Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:46 AM

average is intelligent enough to take it up

Nims Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:47 AM

Common man. Talk something sensible.

lakshmanu Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:52 AM

Baw, Baw Baw!. Boru Begal Bandula!!

Lionel P, Saturday, 03 January 2015 12:09 PM

Bandula G as usual talking bull-shit! Has he given our children free education? Parents have to "donate" for school development societies, spend through their noses for Tution ! And he is talking of free education !Lionel

daya dissanayake Saturday, 03 January 2015 12:22 PM

is there free education now?

Senator Saturday, 03 January 2015 12:59 PM

Free education should be given to all students up to grade 10 and there after it should be paid education,with govt.loans or whatever.Total free education do not make very good citizens,because they know not the hardships of everyday life and not necessarily make good gentle citizens.

Mahim Bandaranayake Saturday, 03 January 2015 01:30 PM

Is this FUTA 6%?By privatizing EDUCATION, FUTA CAN DIRECT 10% OF GDP?Please answer Mr. Chandraguptha Thenuwara?and Professor Rohan Fernando? Why are you silent. Explain FUTA STAND immediately. Please VOTE for Mahinda unless other wise. Tnx

Madlin Saturday, 03 January 2015 01:47 PM

what a stupid claim by our bankrupt Education Minister. via DM Android App

Gona Saturday, 03 January 2015 01:55 PM

Is that all you have to say?

PD Saturday, 03 January 2015 01:55 PM

I know this my teacher is perfect than present education minister. I respect you on that history.

willows Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:45 AM

your education stinks man??

boo Saturday, 03 January 2015 02:43 PM

if... any suggestions of low cost education ? like 2500 for month to live.

aza Saturday, 03 January 2015 02:52 PM

another joker in government ,can you even hold grade 5 exam without interference and fair to all children ,you destroyed every ministry you got please go home after 8 th

Niranjan Saturday, 03 January 2015 03:11 PM

The only education needed now is to get educated to be thuggish, lawless and corrupt. Hopefully after the 8th it will be better.

Freebird Saturday, 03 January 2015 03:41 PM

Big mouth only. No brain via DM Android App

harry Saturday, 03 January 2015 04:19 PM

The proposed option of a loan is a good idea for some body who has just missed the scores to enter University. What is the alternative to these students Minister. Should they not try to improve their educational qualifications to have a better future? OR do you suggest them to do odd jobs for day to day survival and be POOR for the rest of their life. What kind of boorish thinking is that?

harry Saturday, 03 January 2015 04:22 PM

This is not ending free education Mr Minister but opening more opportunities which is a good thing.

Patriot Sri Lankan Saturday, 03 January 2015 04:22 PM

now they speak about free education system, but what you have done for the university students, when they fought for there rights govt has beaten them by using security forces like those who are thugs or terrorist, where you were that time, wht uve done for protect those university student rights, nothing, so we need change, it should be the lesson for all. so in future no one will be thinking of doing it again n again.we support MY3

Ben Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:12 PM

Can someone pay this guy Rs 7500/- a month and ask him retire from politics to stay home please.

Anuradhe Sunday, 04 January 2015 09:12 AM

people know who really want the end free education, this man is a liar.

Don Don Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:03 AM

Once again, the JOKER in action.

shek Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:09 AM

seems like you know statistics. via DM Android App

Sachi Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:11 AM

Mr.Minister do not talk nonsense.You are trying to gain polital support by giving wrong information to the public,.I thought our Education Minister is a educated person?

mohamed Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:12 AM

or Rs 7500 we about your education pls keep your mouth shut

Vijith Pieterz Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:14 AM

Sir, you

SL Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:27 AM

Dear Minister pls do not talk b...I could not find a quality,school having good stander of education for my kids ,since I am living 15 kms away from the Kandy city limit.I had to send them to a private school just to make sure that they will have a good education even I have financial difficulties to cater with the education expenditures.Our tax money is not worth because of your stupid actions. Under your term how many Private school permits are issued?specially to your friends.I have nameyou have totally failed in safe guarding free education under your term.

Kiris Baba Amaray Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:32 AM

Sir you are a Joker, everyone knows about this, but you are not suitable to handle Education.

dcn Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:38 AM

Minister Bandula a great economist (?) Educationist (?) He only speaks nothing but the Truth (??????)

Fassey Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:39 AM

Our appreciation goes to President for the Mahindhodya labs, but under a My3 govt. we are sure to have better financial allocation for education, a better education system and a better Education Minister. My3 has never said anywhere he will abolish free education.

Cheers Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:46 AM

Does not matter what sirisena tells or what he is planning the current president will be confidently offered the third term by majority of Sri lankans as sirisena along with common parties have failed and also trying to get a upper hand with TNA and SLMC for their benefits

johan Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:00 AM

He has not told anywhere in his speeches.Better you have to consult an ENT specialist

nariya Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:04 AM

this guy is a liar via DM Android App

Fair N Square Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:08 AM

BUT..Banu arent u the one who said one can live with rupees 7,500.00? Oh I wonder if u thought about how parents would have PAID YOU for the Tuition classes that YOU conducted...while you were an economic master... poor US..

Hussain Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:14 AM

The same who talking do the work of privatized the education.bandu. you make and all bindu.

Lanka_Son Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:31 AM

The honorable minister,s statement is misleading. Free education has been havily privatized by current government. Currently undergraduate degrees has been awarded by private institutions including SLIIT, SAITM ( IT degrees, Engineering and MBBS, business etc..). There is no argument about to build our MOTHER LAND as an educational hub in Asian region. I think this could be done through the existing state university system. Our current universities mostly functioning from 8. am to 5.00 pm during week days (except higher degree courses are conducted during after hours and weekend). If we consider foreign universities undergraduate course lectures are delivered up to 9.00pm during week days. This clearly shows that we havent utilized our state university infrastructures 100%. Thus using our existing state university infrastructures we could offer quality education to our future students who will not eligible to enter the university according to current cutoff marks by appointing additional staffs to state universities. We could provide quality education to them at reasonable course fees ( I am sure that we could offer the degree with 1/4 th of the course fee of private institutions). The course fees obtained from the students can be used to upgrade our uni with state of the art facilities. Thus I am supporting Mr. My3 manifesto regarding his educational reforms. Further he assured that he will increase the budget allocation up to 6% of GDP. This will strengthen our free education system.

Wedige Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:34 AM

You need to recollect your origin, as a TUITION master.

demel Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:37 AM

This man is not a person suitable for politics.You should select characters to allow to join politics by experienced panel checking his background of his or her family education level so that you will be able to make a smart brave educated crowd in parliement.But see today who are their Thugs low quality members who criticies others in bad manner so on. Also you should permit a age restriction to apply here.My idea is age limit should be 25 - 55 years.This is to enter only.If we can call only for degree holders just imagine how will be our country via DM Android App

TONY Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:41 AM

FREE EDUCATION IS ONLY BY NAME. WHY DONT YOU TAKE A SURVEY AND SEE HOW MUCH PARENTS SPEND ON TUITION TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN. EVEN THE POOR SPEND ON EXTRA CLASSES AS THE GOVT SCHOOLS DO NOT TEACHING IS SUBSTANDARD

gobbaya Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:52 AM

this guy is nuts...donno what he is jabbering about via DM Android App

Gayan Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:57 AM

Oh that is really sad, the current education is soooo good that all parents have to pay for additional private classes in evening and weekend.

Duminda Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:38 AM

Minister your talking from mouth or a**!!!

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Maithripala wants to end free education-Bandula

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