Funding the extra intake

Tuesday, 16 October 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AS is often the case in Sri Lanka, the moment one set of problems seem solved or at least postponed, another series crop up. Just as universities returned to work on Monday, there were new issues being discussed with regard to the intake of 5,600 students that would cost an estimated Rs. 2 billion in public funds.

As readers will remember, the z-score fiasco ended with the Supreme Court ordering the University Grants Commission (UGC) to add 5,600 more students in faculties. Given that universities are already straining their capacity at the seams to accommodate existing intakes of around 21,000 students, the addition seems befuddled with shortcomings.

Universities heads have already warned that even though the intake of these extra students have been delayed due to the prolonged Federation of University Teachers Associations (FUTA) strike, it is impossible to fast-track their entry unless additional funds are immediately made available.

Laboratories, excess space in lecture halls, hostel space, libraries, and canteens are among the facilities most in need of cash. Reports have quoted Higher Education Secretary Dr. Navaratne acknowledging an estimated Rs. 2 billion is needed to meet this resource gap. Incidentally, Rs. 2 billion is the amount that the United National Party (UNP) is accusing the Government of having lost in the infamous Greek Bond investment last year.

The Appropriation Bill in Parliament shows that the Higher Education allocation for 2013 will be Rs. 30 billion, which, while being an increase from the previous year, might be inadequate to meet the present needs. Moreover, disbursement of funds could take many more months as the Government struggles to bridge its revenue and expenditure gap for the Budget, as has been evident by the recent increase in commodity prices, including water.

The prolonged drought is also causing much concern, with the Central Bank downgrading growth numbers twice this year to reach 6.8% this month. Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera was quoted by Reuters recently as predicting that growth could be as low as 6.5%, a notion that has been backed by reports from the Asian Development Bank and other authorities. These organisations have also predicted that not only would inflation hit double digits for the first time in three years at the end of 2012, but growth for 2013 would also remain low due to pressures from a lacklustre global economic situation.

Even though the Supreme Court decision was announced several weeks ago, there has been no move by the Government to address the issue of extra funding for universities. All attention was focused almost exclusively on bringing the stalemate between the Government and FUTA to an end. This has now been achieved, but FUTA’s dissatisfaction with the Government proposals makes it an uneasy peace at best.

With such contentious issues continuing to brew, it is clear that the country’s education sector is not out of the woods yet – indeed whether it will ever be is questionable. However, it is imperative that the Government and the university authorities work on these emerging issues without delay so that students, already handicapped after a three-month hiatus, are not left to flounder once again.