FUTA closely follows governments’ direction towards 6% education

Sep 24, 2015

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) is very closely following the governments’ direction towards 6% GDP allocation for the Sri Lankan education.

FUTA writes to the President to emphasize again that the obligation of the government to safeguard the state education system of Sri Lanka.

The full text of the letter as follows 

Mr. Maithripala Sirisena
His Excellency the President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Presidential Secretariat
Galle Face,
Colombo 1.

His Excellency the President,

The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) positively noted the recognition of our major demand, allocation of 6% GDP to education by the present government. We also noted the statements appeared on your election manifesto that unquestionably gave a significant recognition to enhance the education sector of the country.

However the genuineness of the present government towards the state education sector is becoming doubtful. As we observe, the appointment of ministers of education and their portfolios look ambiguous. We do not find any rationale of combining University Education with Highways to form a ministerial position. Furthermore, we observe a severe conflict of interest regarding the appointment of the State Minister of University Education, who owns privately managed schools and higher education institutions where the needs of a small fraction of the society are been served. We are at an alarmed situation that how such minister could contribute to safeguard the state education system of Sri Lanka where the vast majority of the society is being benefitted while actively running his own “education enterprises”.
We would like to emphasize again that the obligation of the government to safeguard the state education system of Sri Lanka should not be marginalized at any cost. FUTA is very closely following the governments’ direction towards 6% GDP allocation for the Sri Lankan education. Hence we request the government to increase the allocation for education by a significant percentage with the forthcoming budget.

Finally we, as a concerned group of academics, would like to start a national dialogue to rectify the issues of the entire education system of Sri Lanka for a sustainable development.

Thank you,
Dr. Primal Fernando Dr. A. W. Wijeratne
President Secretary
Copy to
1. Hon. Prime Minister
2. Hon. Minister of University Education and Highways
3. Hon. State Minister of University Education
4. Hon. Minster of Finance
5. Electronic and Printed Media