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Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Friday, 12 January 2018 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Safna Malik
and Shannon Jayawardena
The parents association of the South Asia Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) yesterday called on the Government to publicise the report submitted by National Policies and Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva to bring immediate redress to students.
The Private Medical College Parents Society Ltd. (PMCPSL) told reporters of the plight of thousands of students waiting to know the fate of SAITM after board consultations were conducted under the latest committee.
According to the PMCPSL, the Government promised to resolve the SAITM issue before 31 December 2017 but this pledge remains unfulfilled. The report, compiled by Dr. de Silva’s committee, has been handed over to the Presidential Secretariat but so far no steps have been taken by them. The parents association appealed to the Government to release the contents of the report and also bring it before the Supreme Court where a case on SAITM was pending. They urged the Government to find a comprehensive solution and not simply concentrate on quick fixes.
The PMCPSL is looking for an immediate solution for students who are suffering due to not having their degrees validated by the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC). However, parents were positive of SAITM President Neville Fernando signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sri Lanka Institute of Information and Technology (SLIIT) so all students could join SLIIT by the beginning of next year.
PMCPSL President Dr. T.M. K.B. Tennakoon also said all future students had benefited from SAITM as the SLMC had to gazette minimum standards for medical degrees for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history.
“Over 900 students of SAITM who studied for nine years are confused as of what to do because of this stalemate. SAITM is the only private medical university in the country which has had a conflict for so long and has caused great chaos in the country.”
He also reiterated that SAITM students are as competent as their state university educated counterparts and was prepared to sit for a common paper to prove their education competence level.
PMCPSL also mentioned Sri Lanka was in need of at least 45,000 doctors and as such there was sufficient demand in the economy. He also pointed out that many students who perform well at the Advanced Level examinations nonetheless had little opportunity to become doctors as there was limited space at state universities. However, he argued that private medical colleges give the opportunity for students to achieve their dreams and even work internationally as well as saving the country precious foreign exchange.
