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Rajarata's shame and the UGC

Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, in his column "No Holds Barred" in Daily News of 29th Nov. has highlighted irregularities at Peradeniya University under the title Peradeniya's shame. In the same way, the irregularities and incidents that take place at Rajarata University can put Rajarata into shame. Who is responsible?

Last year, a Dean of one of the faculties of the University of Rajarata was using a Laboratory Attendant attached to the Faculty to make his breakfast, lunch and dinner. This practice is extremely irregular and against the Establishment Code of the university. The writer of this letter brought this irregularity to the notice of the Vice-Chancellor, the University Council, and later to the Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC). But, no action was taken.

The normal practice at Rajarata University is to advertise vacancies in newspapers. However, in December 2002, the Dean of the same Faculty in trying to recruit temporary academic staff, did not advertise the vacancies in newspapers but, circulated an advertisement among the Agriculture Faculties in the country. But, strangely; two applicants, completely outside any of the Agriculture Faculties were selected. One is a retired government officer, and the other a person outside the Sri Lanka universities, who was working in the private sector. The writer brought this irregularity too, to the notice of the relevant authorities including the University Council and the UGC Chairman but, no action was taken.

In September 2003, applications were called for the posts of Professor and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture of Rajarata University by an advertisement, in Daily News of 15 Sept. 2003. According to the present regulations, the minimum academic qualifications necessary for appointment to the post of Professor are a first degree with atleast a second class, a postgraduate degree and ten years of experience in teaching/research after obtaining the postgraduate degree.

However, according to the press advertisement, postgraduate candidates (those without postgraduate degrees) are to be given preference for the vacant post of Professor, and Senior Lecturer. This irregularity was brought to the notice of the Vice-Chancellor at a Senate meeting but no action was taken to rectify this anomaly.

In the Faculty of Agriculture of Rajarata University, during the last semester, five examination papers on completely different subjects were moderated and second-marked by the Dean. It is impossible for a university academic to be an expert in five different subjects. This irregularity too was brought to the notice of the VC and the Chairman, UGC but, as usual no action was taken.

Taking revenge from those who are critical of the administration is common in Rajarata University. Probationary Lecturers are entitled for study leave to work for their postgraduate degree, which is essential for them to obtain confirmation in their posts. However, some probationary staff who were critical of the authorities were not given study leave to obtain their postgraduate qualification. A Dean and two probationary lecturers who too were critical of the authorities have been interdicted, in spite of protests by some members of the council including the writer.

As a responsible academic staff member, and Head of a Department in the University of Rajarata, the writer had the "bad" habit of bringing these irregularities to the notice of the authorities, including the Rajarata University Council and the UGC to take appropriate action. But, while the UGC did not bother to take any action to stop these irregularities, the V.C. took "appropriate" action.

He stopped the annual increment of the writer, on the advice of the Dean who made some false allegations against the writer. The V.C. even did not follow the procedures in the Establishment Code of the University when increments were stopped. An appeal made by the writer to have an enquiry on the allegations made by the Dean was ignored. This situation was brought to the notice of the UGC. Even Her Excellency the President and the Hon. Minister of Higher Education were informed of these irregularities who in turn requested the UGC Chairman to look into these complaints. But, as usual the UGC remained dormant. The writer, finding it difficult to work in such an environment where irregularities and vindictiveness prevail tendered his resignation from the University.

The students at Rajarata are now on Sathyagraha because they have no proper accommodation. About 30-40 students have to sleep, eat and study in a house with 3-4 bed rooms. There are about 10 such houses. A large building complex of the former teachers' training college located very close to the Faculty of Agriculture at Puliyankulama was vacant for nearly one year.

At a meeting held with the Vice Chancellor (V.C.) and the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, about a years ago, students brought to the notice of the V.C. and the Dean, about this building, and requested them to look into the possibility of obtaining it to the Faculty of Agriculture. Vice Chancellor and the Dean agreed to contact the relevant authorities in this regard. However, nothing substantial happened. The V.C. saw the facilities available at this training college for the first time, only after one year, the day the students were tear gassed by the police, when the students were forcibly occupying the premises.

Unfortunately, the authorities including the University Council appear to be unconcerned about the irregularities and mismanagement that are taking place in Rajarata University. As a result, most of the academic and non-academic staff, like the writer, are disgusted. When irregularities as those indicated above occur in a university, and when they are brought to the notice of the UGC, it needs to take appropriate action to stop such irregularities. According to the University Act No. 16 of 1978, one of the objectives of the UGC is the regulation of the administration of Higher Educational Institutions. But, according to what happens in the university system, the UGC appears to have miserably failed to fulfil this objective.

As indicated in Prof. Hoole's "Peradeniya's Shame", UGC, the highest body of the university system, is apparently inactive. It is like an inert gas, and has no mechanism to stop/prevent the irregularities in the universities.

The UGC, established in 1978, spending around Rs. 50 million a year, needs to take a more realistic and pragmatic approach to see that the universities function smoothly so that both students and staff have a conducive environment to carry out their work. If the UGC is unable to do this, the best alternative is for them to resign for the sake of the country.

- Dr. C. S. Weeraratna, Former Professor and Head, Dept. of Soils and Water Resources of the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University

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