University and school admission age to be reduced

Wednesday, 30 January 2013 04:32

The government will revamp the university and school education structure with a view to bringing down the age for university admission from the present 20 years to 16 and age for school admission to four years, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said.

He said this was being done to be in line with the educational systems prevailing in many other countries in the world.

“Through the new system the students will get to sit the GCE O/L examination when they are in grade-10 and the GCE A/L when they are in grade-12,” the minister said.

As agreed by all the Vice Chancellors and higher educational officials at a workshop held recently, the age of school admission will be reduced to four, while one of the grades between 7 and 10 will be abolished. Therefore the students will get to enter universities by the age of 16 and pass out at a maximum age of 21.

“The idea of implementing this system is very praise worthy, I am very happy about it, it will be like our days of education, the students will be able to finish their PHDs even before 30,” Colombo University Vice Chancellor Kshanika Hirimburegama said. (Hasini Liyanage)

Comments

-0+0 # bandula 2013-01-30 05:30

Shah. S.B. should start school all over again. may be he should take some of his ministerial friends along with him too.

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-0+0 # ben 2013-01-30 05:30

superb... but be careful with the idiots! who always think about strikes

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-0+0 # silverhawks 2013-01-30 05:30

for once I would like to agree with the minister. having said that future generation should be taught on how to endure pressure.

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-0+0 # citizen 2013-01-30 05:30

it's a very good move!

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-0+0 # abdul 2013-01-30 05:30

praise worthy. ..

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-0+0 # SL 2013-01-30 05:30

This is a very good proposal. Long live MR

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-16+33 # GC 2013-01-30 09:57

It is pointless to reduce the university admission age if students have to wait a long and uncertain time to start their university education after doing the A.L. exams. When I entered university in 1970s, I had to wait a year from the exam to start university - this was longer than the wait of my siblings in the previous years. How long do students wait now? If the motivation is genuine, authorities should first aim to reduce this delay.

-1+21 # H.L 2013-01-30 10:58

This whole new change includes an effort to put down all the gaps as well. there will not be a 6 months gap after O/Ls n steps will be taken to release the results with no delay.

-9+14 # Lobo 2013-01-30 13:43

Great move....now they can start fighting and striking at an earlier age.

-4+40 # rosa 2013-01-30 10:00

This is a very good decision. In 1974 I entered peradeniya university at the age of 18+ and graduated at 22+ following four year degree. There were a few who were just 17+ and graduated at 21+ which is now impossible in sril lankan education system.

It is good if education authorities and UGC would implement this decision.

-4+28 # Duminda 2013-01-30 10:03

If government could implement this strategy,its really praise worthy idea, atleast our future generation will get the benefit

-4+32 # Ravi Perera 2013-01-30 10:05

Good move. This should have happen earlier. Sri Lankan students are way behind with the foreign students who are in the same age group.

-5+33 # Nishantha 2013-01-30 10:15

Very Good Proposal...!

-5+29 # rishad 2013-01-30 10:18

good idea.. thats great

-5+19 # The cool guy 2013-01-30 10:21

Wow

-3+25 # P.S 2013-01-30 10:36

If implemented this will be a very significant step kept forward in the srilankan educational system. The minister n all the educational officials will be appreciated by the whole society :D

-1+27 # james 2013-01-30 10:37

Great move. You particularly feel the disadvantage of age when you go abroad for further studies/work. Atleast, the new generation will be spared of this.

-2+21 # pasan 2013-01-30 10:41

good information & also a very good move by the ministry these things should be accepted if we wanna have a good education system in the country

-6+5 # modaya 2013-01-30 12:21

You have to wait for the comments by the IUSF (Anthare) since they will be gravely affected through this proposal.

-6+3 # lovesri 2013-01-30 12:30

A great idea, from a Gr8 man. I suppose there will be a new curriculum matching 4 year old and teachers trained to handle that age group; also programs to orient 16 year old entered into universities.

-2+7 # reality 2013-01-30 12:31

Good move, really appreciated.

-3+6 # Natalie 2013-01-30 13:27

Congratulations SB I think now you are working on your right side and we are back with you again cos we lost all the confidence we had after you introduced Military training for the students. But now you are on the right footing as when you started as Minister of Edu until the introduction of the Military training.

-2+3 # nimy 2013-01-30 13:41

what about preschools ?

-4+5 # Pat 2013-01-30 13:43

Hat off to SB!

-1+3 # Mutu 2013-01-30 13:46

This might be good because we have a higher literacy rate. However with the present of politicians who have already ruined the education will this be feasible?

-4+1 # Krishan 2013-01-30 13:47

This is good only if we can provide jobs to the Graduates.. If not they'll lose on a few good school years..But if we have jobs, this is the way to go..

-2+11 # Laksitha R 2013-01-30 14:17

Excellent move.But Implement soon.

-3+12 # RK 2013-01-30 14:19

This is a great move. They also should have a system to obtain Bacholers Degree just 1 or 2 year after the 12th Grade in the new proposal through a "College system" if not possible through a University. Because of this lapse in our education system, I see many Indians in the Middle East in very good jobs and ahead of Sri Lankans beacuse they have at least Bacholers Degree just 1 year after their +2 exam (12th Grade) where a Sri Lankan needs to enter the university after the A/L and needs to spend further at least 2-3 years to get a degree. Although Sri Lankans have the capabilities and skills, they are not in good positions due to the lack of accademic qualification.

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