Education forced to kneel down before govt.

SUNDAY, 16 JUNE 2013 

The private universities bill that has been defeated by masses on several occasions has been brought back in another round and the government has secretly prepared the legal background for it reveals the National Movement for the Protection of Free Education (NMPFE) at a media conference held by it  at Center for Religion and Society at Maradana today (16th).

The General Secretary of Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Rohan Fernando disclosed that the Minister of Higher Education has been shrewd enough to take over via another secretariat that is controlled by his Ministry the authority to regulate universities that had been handed over to University Grants Commission (UGC) through Universities act No. 16 of 1978.

He said the ‘Non-governmental university secretariat’ that is under the Secretary to the Ministry of Higher Education Sunil Jayanthe Nawaratne, who has been appointed by Minister S.B. Dissanayake as the authorized representative, has appointed a commission to regulate private universities . Dr. Rohan Fernando said legal provisions have been designed so that recommendations of the commission would be implemented only with the approval of the Minister.

The co-convener of NMPFE Senior Lecturer Devaka Punchihewa addressing the media conference said, “All countries of the world come under the ‘Lima Declaration’ signed in 1988on the right of education. This declaration stabilizes the fair and justifiable right of people to have free education.  Also, a decision given regarding a petition filed in Supreme Court against the attempt by former President Chandrika Bandaranayke in 1999 to amend the university act of 1978 indicates denying free education is a violation of clauses 10 and 14 of the Constitution.

This government violating the Lima Declaration as well as the Constitution is carrying out selling education in various means. The government also makes use of repressive schemes. The student repression at Sabaragamuwa University is an example. An attempt was made to sack Mr. Anurudha Pradeep, an academician at Sri Jayawardenepura University. He is from a political party in the government but he raised his voice against private universities.

As such, instead of waiting without taking any action like in Hitler’s suppression thinking that “it would not affect me’ all should come forward to protect free education.”

The National Organizer of Socialist Students’ Union (SSU) Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said, “This government has contributed most for the privatization of education. A private medical school was begun at Malabe and an attempt is being made to get legality through fake reports.120 acres from Mirigama have been given to construct a private university attached to University of Lancashire in Britain. Meanwhile, admissions in state universities are sold.  Already, chances of 40 bright students to enter universities have been sold at the rate of Rs.7.5 million.

Within two months about 275 students have been suspended from universities. Minister S.B. Dissanayake suspends a university student every two hours he works in the ministry. He has made driving away university students from education, suspension of students his duties as a minister.

The government is slashing allocations for education to produce prostitutes needed for casinos it attempts to promote in the country. A provincial councilor of North – Western Provincial Council made a lady teacher kneel down before him for advising his daughter not to wear short dresses to school. This government attempts to subdue the whole education sector. We challenge the government to take disciplinary action against the provincial member; if the ruling party has a back bone he should be chased out from the party.”

The Organizing Secretary of Lanka Teacher Services Union (LTSU) Dhammika Alahapperuma, organizer of ‘Doctors against Private Medical Colleges’ Dr. Indunil Wijenayake also participated.