Moves to monitor private academies

21 January 2011 07:30 pm - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Laws will be introduced to establish an authoritative body to register private academies in the country and to monitor their performance with the aim to maintain the standard and quality of the educational institutions, Higher Education Minister S.B.Dissanayaka said.

“We expect to present the ‘Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Qualification Framework Act’ in Parlliament within a month. The Act will provide for the establishment of the ‘Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Qualification Council’” Minister Dissanayaka told Daily Mirror yesterday.

“The new council will constantly monitor the activities and the quality of education of all private higher educational academies and cancel their registration if they fail to meet the minimum required standard laid down by the Council,” Minister Dissanayaka said.

The objective of the new laws is to prevent the mushrooming of higher educational academies. There are instances where these academies issue degrees and diploma certificates in one, two or three months. Ironically, a Masters’ Degree is offered after 8 years of the first degree and a PhD after 10 years under the formal university system, Minister Dissanayaka pointed out.

The private higher educational academies including those affiliated to foreign universities will not be permitted to carry out degree programmes and issue certificates in a haphazard manner. The degree programmes, curriculums and educational methods have to be approved by the Council to ensure the standard of the degree.

The Minister said students who follow degree programmes at a Sri Lankan private academy for one or two semesters will be permitted to study in a foreign university to complete the degree programme.

Elaborating on his vision for the higher education in Sri Lanka, minister Dissanayaka stressed that his aim is to bring at least 6 Sri Lankan universities within the best 1,000 universities in the world and make a degree or diploma certificate issued in Sri Lanka accepted internationally in the next five years.

Proposals have been made by a number of prestigious non governmental foreign universities to establish their branches in Sri Lanka and they will be reviewed positively. The green light to establish foreign university branches will be given without harming the local university system. The government expects this will improve the quality of the higher education in Sri Lanka and also make it a ‘Cost Effective Education Center’for higher education in the region.

Tax holidays, lands and necessary infrastructure will be provided by the government to facilitate the process.

Allaying fears that private universities may attempt to attract Sri Lankan university academics, Minister Dissanayaka emphasized that a university teacher must remain a minimum three years out of the academic activities in a local university prior to joining a foreign university branch in Sri Lanka. However, they would be permitted to serve as visiting lecturers at foreign university branches.

A Human Capital Development Fund is to be set up to help university students from low income families financially, Minister Dissanayaka said. (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

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Comments - 17

Anthony Saturday, 22 January 2011 04:23 AM

We thought this was happening from the start of these institutes (as it should have been). This shows how slow the admin mechanism in Sri Lanka.

ampare son Saturday, 22 January 2011 10:00 PM

Give to financel aid for master degree and phd.if anyone wish go any country let them go. but they half to payback poor people money.

Vasanthie Saturday, 22 January 2011 01:36 PM

Sir, Keep moving your vision to establish private Universities. You will have all our support. Better be late than never. May God Bless You.

Deeno Saturday, 22 January 2011 11:35 AM

Dear Minister,
Who told you that there should be a gap between bachelor degree and masters

Kolitha Saturday, 22 January 2011 10:24 AM

Good move..
Start the action soon...

Yehiya-Doha Saturday, 22 January 2011 07:18 AM

Private institutes are doing well. Look the world class prizes. Dont grab there money. Do it own state buissness

Anemagekata Saturday, 22 January 2011 06:24 AM

Same should be done for international schools. There are many such "teachers" who have studied only up to O/Ls, and don't even know how to speak to small children, let alone teach.

RKRK Saturday, 22 January 2011 05:30 AM

Good plans, but S.B. is talking too much for quite long time , but no real action

mohamed Saturday, 22 January 2011 04:37 AM

when will u build an other house in australia? now education system is becoming sambaru

suwantha Friday, 21 January 2011 07:56 PM

you are ignorant enough to bear minister of higher education.

SK Saturday, 22 January 2011 04:15 AM

If you give good salaries and other facilities to the University academics, they will stay in the state universities. Otherwise it will be a big crisis.

Hemal Saturday, 22 January 2011 02:32 AM

Great move which was long over due , At last.

Yehiya-Doha Saturday, 22 January 2011 02:03 AM

Dear Minister. Talking too much. Wonder of Asia in talks.

Anemagekata Saturday, 22 January 2011 12:53 AM

Long overdue!

So many poor children have been robbed by fake institutes.

ampare son Friday, 21 January 2011 11:08 PM

Do the best. eleminate bogus educational institute.still srilanka has that.save poor parents money.thank you so much sir . god bless you.

Dinesh Friday, 21 January 2011 08:52 PM

SB acts like Minister of Private Education Institutes. None of his proposals towards rising standard of whole education system, but legalizing Private Education Institutes.

raj Friday, 21 January 2011 08:19 PM

How come in Sri Lanka, you place teachers who does not have university degree in the school?

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Moves to monitor private academies

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