Quality of Higher Education in Sri Lanka

In recent time several new developments can be noted in higher education sector in Sri Lanka. Among them most important news was that Sri Lanka prepares to open doors for private universities. I wish to discuss about private universities little bit later and let we see some issues in current context. Before start this article I would like to say that I'm not interested on either "Anthare" or government or any other concerned party.

It is very famous fact that very small number of students are priviledged to enter national universities and others have to go for other options. Situation of universities are lower comparing other universities in region. As a result of this international ranking of Sri lankan universities go day by day. Several reasons which cause for the situation can be identified as follows. First lack of financial and other resources. All universities are funded by government and so all universities have to wait till treasury issues money to them. If any university wishes to keep its standards, it is a must to continue researches. But unfortunately contribution to researches are very low in Sri Lanka. Many Asian Universities open their labortaries even in night to conduct researches. But in Sri Lanka situation is completely contrast. Both lecturers and students should be responsible for this situation. Lecturers have big responsibility to encourage students to conduct researches and students also should conducts such researches because if they can conduct researches successfully it will cause to bright their futures. Organizations invite them to join witheir organizations and findings of researches can be contributed for the development of country. But sadly many students (except science, medicine, physical and engineering students) regulary conduct different kind of protests such as boycott of class and etc. This situation must be changed as soon as possible otherwise bad reputation will harm their future careers. Another fact is degree programs are not updated according to current context. Though their was a separate department in University Grant Commission to update degree programs it was closed in 1995.

Next I wish to focus attention for the external degree programs offered by some universities in Sri lanka. This is one option available for students who do not qualified to enter universities. Today many people start following external degrees. So thousands register for those degree programs. Number of exams have to be completed is lesser than number of exams taken by enternal degree candidate. This results to descrease quality of degree and there are many places which conduct classes for external degree candidates throughout the country. No any qaulity control mechanism is imposed. However University Grants Commision decided to limit number of candidates for external degree programs recently.

Let we see the situation of private higher education in Sri Lanka. There are several instutions that offer foreign degree programs in combination with foreign universities. However quality of these instutions are questionable. Some are registered with University Grant Commission but majority are unregistered. However no quality control mechanism is imposed and those intutions try to attract more and more students to earn maximum profit. When number of students who enter to those institutions are increased, the quality of the degree programs are descreased. For example when few students are in classroom necessary tutes, books can be given free of charge but number os students increased it is not possible. Thus the quality of those programs are questionable.

The latest topic in the field is to " open private universities in Sri Lanka". Though responsible people introduced them as private universities actually they are branches of foreign universities. For example Australian university - Monash may open a branch on here. Although local institutions which conduct foreign degree programs are not categorized as " Private universities" officially, they are a kind of private universities. It is sated that new act will be on parliament no details are available to refer. However it is clear that strong regulation is necessary to control the quality if private universities will be established.

Finally it is a must to mention that higher education is on fire and proper solutions must be implemented as soon as necessary otherwise future of youth of country will be questionable.