Govt. favours setting up of private campuses

21 December 2015 03:23 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 16 Bookmark

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The government has decided to encourage the establishment of private universities in the country, while giving the fullest possible autonomy to State run universities, Higher Education Minister Lakshman Kiriella said yesterday.

Minister Kiriella said the government had made sufficient allocations in the budget for the development of the university sector. Alongside, he said the government would encourage the private sector involvement in the development and expansion of the higher education sector.

Asserting that only 20 per cent of Advanced Level qualifiers could enter the State Universities, he said more and more opportunities should be made available in the higher education sector.

“We won’t interfere with the university affairs. The Vice Chancellors are given a free hand to run them,“ he said

The Minister said a number of foreign universities had expressed willingness to put up their branch campuses in the country.

The previous government also sought similar agreements with foreign universities at that time. Then, Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake even tried to amend the present laws to provide for the establishment of non-state universities. (Kelum Bandara)

Comments - 16

myraspi Monday, 21 December 2015 09:11 AM

Yes it is a good move. You also should do the following;1. Make sure that these private/public are quality controlled by a common body to ensure quality.2. Abolish free education and introduce a loan system so that students have to repay once they start earning. We never appreciate what we get for free.3. Change the syllabus of current courses to suit the present requirements.

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MBA Student Monday, 21 December 2015 09:20 AM

Has seen not seen the Number of Private Universities Bill Boards Advertisement Selling MBA ect before even enrolling. This is from the Past So many Years

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John Silva Monday, 21 December 2015 09:22 AM

It is essential to provide students with the facilities to do higher education but these should be geared to the requirements of the country to ensure that when they pass out, there will be jobs. Churning out Arts graduates will only create more unemployment. Today even passed out doctors are not being absorbed into the service as government does not have money to increase the cadre. SL is short of at least 20,000 doctors but the governments, past and present have been hiding the facts.

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People Monday, 21 December 2015 09:48 AM

In fact, many private universities provide better quality education than many state run universities. Look at other countries.

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Bippity Boppity Boo Monday, 21 December 2015 10:24 AM

Make sense. In most developed counties this is the case. Education is wealth and it is reasonable paying for it.

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Hon. Arnolis Monday, 21 December 2015 10:56 AM

In all countries that I know of higher education is NOT free. Even the government universities charge a fee. Only the basic school education upto grade 8 or 10 is given on account of tax payers.

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G.m. Jayawardena Monday, 21 December 2015 11:29 AM

Good move indeed ... education should not be denied to anyone ... with paid or free if we are to develop this country... the country needs educated persons ....

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Premalal Monday, 21 December 2015 12:13 PM

Absolutely correct and that is the reason for the agitation by the students and doctors.

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saman Monday, 21 December 2015 12:51 PM

education is never free...so rich people should be given a chance of having an education in sri lanka without burdening the tax payers

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Thanos Monday, 21 December 2015 01:11 PM

it is about time!

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Bippity Boppity Boo Monday, 21 December 2015 01:13 PM

Yes or no. In Japan the state universities are the best and also also a passport for a nice job.It is now free but reasonable.

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OMG Monday, 21 December 2015 02:36 PM

we need private universities, otherwise we never have sound education background. India is a good example for it.

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Lawry Monday, 21 December 2015 03:28 PM

Very good move. If they want to protest they should also protest against holding tuition classes, which are private

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sas Monday, 21 December 2015 07:10 PM

Long overdue decision.This should have happened at least 20 years ago.

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TONY Monday, 21 December 2015 11:22 PM

THE COUNTRY NEEDS MORE PAYING UNIS, CAUSE PARENTS ARE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO GOVT UNIS AFTER SEEING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PRESENT SET OF STUDENTS

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G.M. Jayawardena Tuesday, 22 December 2015 10:44 AM

Good move indeed ... the eductaion should not be denied to anyone .. either by paid or free

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