External degrees are worthless says Minister S.B. Dissanayke

3 January 2012 12:21 am - 25 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Minister of Higher Education S.B. Dissanayake said that the external degrees awarded by Sri Lankan universities were worthless certificates that would not benefit its holder or the country in any manner. Addressing a gathering at the inaugural ceremony of the Open and Distant Education Centre affiliated to the Aesthetic University, he said external degrees had recognition during election campaigns when political appointment were made.

The minister also said: “Most of the graduates recruited to government service through the graduate training scheme in 1970 retired after stagnating in their posts. Students of today should not depend on government service and suffer a similar predicament. Many individuals prefer government service to senior positions in the private sector jobs carrying higher perks. This is a bad practice. The UNP introduced the ‘Yali Pubudemu’ reawakening programme to reduce the number of public servants from 800,000 to 400,000 in three years.

However the strength of the public service has increased to 1.4 million under the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. An efficient public service is an integral part of development. The inefficiency of public service has resulted in the collapse of socialist countries and compelled communist countries to switch to free economy systems.

Students should pursue their studies with a target in mind. A scheme is underway to award a BA degree in English Honours and Tamil Honours and to conduct degree courses in information technology and engineering at the Aesthetic University soon. It is also hoped to award a degree in nursing despite protests by the Medical Association.

The external degree is valid only in the teaching profession. While vast new fields are open to others who join the agricultural sector, the clerical service, and the administrative service, those who hold external degrees have nowhere to turn. Expatriate workers including engineers, administrative officers, doctors and even professors are employed in the private sector. The government servants in the US comprise just eight per cent of the entire work force. In England it is three per cent and in Singapore just one per cent.

The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Nandimitra Ekanayake, Minister of Labour Gamini Lokuge, and Vice Chancellor of the Aesthetic University, Jayasena Kottegoda were present at the occasion. (Buddhika Kumarasiri)

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Comments - 25

Sampath Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:22 AM

Not all External Degrees. BIT,English and some are more than valuable when it comes comparing internal degree. But some are i should say not even worth for awarding.

Don Kirinde Wednesday, 04 January 2012 05:14 AM

Private unis is what the guy is talikg about. Ecah private uni bringsthe guy a huge inducement.

W.Kariyawasam Tuesday, 03 January 2012 01:39 PM

The External Digree is the best option for student who failed get the university entrance.

rd Tuesday, 03 January 2012 09:43 AM

wrong statement but Sri Lanka need private universities

xlntgson Tuesday, 03 January 2012 09:02 AM

External or internal, no job security!

rif Tuesday, 03 January 2012 08:17 AM

please close open university to avid future problem now

das Tuesday, 03 January 2012 08:13 AM

private degrees??? whats that?

W Leslie Tuesday, 03 January 2012 07:18 AM

This guy is mad

love sri lanka Tuesday, 03 January 2012 06:55 AM

This minister is an idiot. Spliting to his own face

Innocent Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:59 AM

SO why you all are promoting private university? Cheating people and rob the money??

PREM Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:54 AM

ist it too mush for our Minister when he is not in a ppsition to assure corect results even for A/L

GSK Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:49 AM

we are saying our own education is shit???

saj Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:40 AM

I too have an external degree from Colombo University and it has served me so well. This is simply a propoganda speech to promote private universities.

samu Tuesday, 03 January 2012 01:41 AM

Its very true. It wont take the degree holder any where.

citizen1 Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:01 AM

Why don't you just fold up and take up a new endeavour? 'Minister of education' was not your true calling and you were a total flop.

Suny J Tuesday, 03 January 2012 04:50 AM

I am an external degree student from Perdadeniya.....presently i am pursing my PhD programme in Melbourne.....i came this far because of my external degree from Pera ...I can not understand why u guys are soooo mad with external degree holders....??? I heard he also got an external degree from Vidyodaya,,???

rana Tuesday, 03 January 2012 04:26 AM

The next step to declare all degrees from Srilanka universities are worthless and therefore enter only private universities. What an Asscharya i n this Hub of education??

jk Tuesday, 03 January 2012 04:15 AM

what a fool! I have an External degree (namely BIT) and everyone knows what's the demand for BIT graduates.

DonQuixote Tuesday, 03 January 2012 03:59 AM

This is the type of MAD DOG who is in charge of education in this Country !

MArk Tuesday, 03 January 2012 03:51 AM

what a stupid idiot.

Amila Tuesday, 03 January 2012 03:51 AM

This is a voice of a bull, not of a human being. We should understand this man, Man with filthy mouth.

bash Tuesday, 03 January 2012 03:21 AM

Why not graduates join politics like this minister.... VERY VERY GOOD PERKS & PROFITS EH????

willows Tuesday, 03 January 2012 03:19 AM

so now he wants to scrap the external degree, surely road way to private uni???

sudath Tuesday, 03 January 2012 03:03 AM

Private degrees awarded by Sri Lankan universities were worthless certificates

Sunil Rajapakse Tuesday, 03 January 2012 02:53 AM

I cannot understand what he is saying. I am a external graduate from J’pura. I am an Accountant. I did my MBA based on that. Even I got the opportunity to migrate to Australia. As far as I am concern I have acquired the adequate knowledge and It was a difficult task for us than internal exams due to testing was from the syllabus

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External degrees are worthless says Minister S.B. Dissanayke

Comments - 25

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