10% increase in annual intake for State universities: Grero

Godavari Institute of Engineering and Technology Manager (Admissions) Dr. S.K. Meera Sharief briefing their education courses to State Minister for Higher Education Mohan Lal Grero as Acting High Commissioner of India Sri Arindam Bagchi and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education Madhawa Dewasurandra look on

State Minister for Higher Education Mohan Lal Grero and Acting High Commissioner of India Sri Arindam Bagchi ceremonially opening the fair 

by cutting the ribbon

State Minister for Higher Education Mohan Lal Grero last week said the annual intake of state universities was increased by 10% this year and a similar move is planned for 2017 as well.

“We are planning to increase the university intake annually by 10% as we were successful this year to increase it by 10%. Approximately 300,000 students sat for the A/L examination last year and 150,000 qualified to pursue higher education. But only (approximately) 27,500 students can enrol to the State universities which are under the free education scheme. Only 18% of the total students who sat for the A/Ls 2015 have been enrolled for the State universities. The other three quarter of students should find other paths for their higher education. This is a major problem in our free higher education system. We are addressing these issues one by one and the plan is to increase the intake annually by 10% for the state universities,” State Minister for Higher Education Mohan Lal Grero stated at the opening ceremony of the education fair named ‘Study in India’ at BMICH organised by the EdCIL, Indian High Commission with Indian UGC at the BMICH on 15 October.

He further stated that the 82% of students who sat for the exam should be seriously considered by the Government as they are the youth of the country. We have some governmental higher education institutes related to technology, agriculture and some areas to provide higher education in some limited areas. But they all can’t get into that system since their studies are varied. 

The Sri Lankan Government has given the permission for the non-state higher education institutes to offer degrees with quality and relevance under the permission of the UGC Sri Lanka. There are 17 non-state universities around Sri Lanka to provide higher education for such students who have been given permission by the UGC. Another 25 institutes are willing to be permitted as it takes a very long time for the process with the keen and smooth observation done by the relevant institutes and parties under the purview of UGC. 

Now they are planning to establish a new independent commission to accredit and assure the quality of the higher education in Sri Lanka called Quality Assurance and Accreditation Commission. The bill has already been drafted but it takes another one and half years to implement since it is a job related to the higher education of the country. After the establishment of the Commission, it will be the authorised institution to provide license or the accreditation for all the higher education institutions around the country. 

“We have a plan to develop the higher education system in this country within the next few years as a hub of Asia,” he further stressed.

Indian Acting High Commissioner Sri Arindam Bagchi, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education Madhawa Dewasurendra and Second Secretary of the India High Commission Sri K.J. Joseph were present.