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Freshers misled by senior undergrade

by A. W. Gunawardhana, Matara Cental Correspondent

The attempts of certain elements to sabotage the efforts of university authorities to modernise university curricula should be condemned, Prof. Ranjith Senaratna, Vice Chancellor, University of Ruhuna, told a media conference on the closure of the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences. He was referring to the illegal steps taken by a group of senior students to prevent freshers following lectures at the Faculty.

Prof. Senaratne said that the new curriculum for humanities was started from August 27, similar measures had been taken in universities in developed countries ten years ago and students were now reaping the benefits of such reform.

In the University of Ruhuna, freshers had been misled by senior students. The Government had allocated Rs. 70 million for the reforms, in spite of the financial constraint, it is creditable on the part of the state that a colossal sum has been allocated. It worked out at Rs. 250,000 per student.

Professor D. Attapattu said, art graduates were considered unemployable by the private sector. We should dispel these views, by enhancing the quality of education by adopting an inter disciplinary approach.

Professor Siri Wawwage, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities said, the reforms enabled students to broaden their world out look. They will not be confined to examinations. It will be a continual process of evaluation. Memorising would have no place, he concluded.

Dr. P. Liyanarnachchi, Head of the Department of Geography said, the reforms would involve the students in creative processes and imbibe learning skills.

Deputy Vice Chancellor Rohan Rajapaksa said a minority was preventing the majority from learning.

Prof. Morly de Silva said 40,000 Advanced Level qualified youth obtain degrees in foreign countries and the local graduates have to be equipped with new skills to compete with them.

Ven. Midigama Soratha Thera, Head of the Pali and Buddhist Department and Sarath Amarasinghe also participated in the conference.

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