Many voices, one issue

Thursday, 14 March 2013 00:24 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

On Tuesday, a group titled ‘Tharunye Handa’ or Voice of Youth staged a protest outside the Higher Education Ministry demanding that the Government release funds to open more public universities in Sri Lanka.

Their argument had the valid point that each year, more than 120,000 students pass gruelling Advanced Level examinations but cannot enter university due to lack of space. A petition supporting their demand was also handed over to a harried employee of the Ministry. Despite the validity of the grievance, it is unlikely that the money-starved Government is going to increase allocations to establish new universities. They are however, slowly pushing forward policies to start private institutions for the same purpose.

This rejuvenates the simmering issue of private universities and their potential to boost economic growth in Sri Lanka by attracting foreign investment, as well as allowing skills sets necessary for a knowledge economy, to seep in. But the way is long and hard.

Sri Lanka already produces the world’s oldest graduates. When youth in most other countries are busy entering the job market in their early 20s, local students – through no fault of their own – are still just starting their degree programs. By the time most foreign people are done with their Masters, Sri Lankan students are still trying to complete their Bachelors. So long does this cumbersome process take that most students marry and even have children while they are attending university.

Into this inefficient and fund-starved system, the Government is planning to unleash private universities. A British university is readying to open its doors in 2014, heralding the first in-country foreign university in Sri Lanka. In fact, the Government is planning to use the higher education system to galvanise lacklustre post-war foreign direct investment with Cabinet Minister for Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana rolling out ambitious plans for the sector.

With the Government keen to promote private universities but avoid troublesome standoffs with student unions, it is likely that they will rush through with crucial legislation that would empower the public higher education system and regularise their private counterparts. Lack of transparent discussions and growing concerns over corruption will also make stakeholders insecure about the direction of the country’s higher education sector.

Students, tired of being caught between a rock and a hard place, would probably welcome the option of getting an accredited degree at home. But without proper monitoring and standardisation, the hard-earned money of their parents could be wasted.

On a larger level, Sri Lanka needs technology and knowledge transfer to foster economic growth. On the surface, that seems like an argument for private universities, but knowledge needs to be matched with intelligent minds, at present the best crop is funnelled to public universities. The fear that State universities will become the destination for poor students while their richer colleagues opt for private universities should not be allowed to become reality. The ideal of universal higher education opportunities must be upheld.

In such a morass of challenges, it is imperative that the university system is guided on the ideals of fairness and equality, but past experiences do not bode well for the future.