Private-public partnership in distance education needed

Shirley Wijesinghe

COLOMBO: Distance Education Modernisation Project (DEMP), would help students who studied up to GCE A'level but failed to continue their studies in the conventional universities specially in the remote parts of the country, said Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

He said less than 7.5 per cent of those who passed ALs could enter university. However the Ministry was able to grant university admission to only 50 per cent of the applicants. This was due to lack of facilities in the national universities that precludes the admission of more students.

Minister Premajayantha was speaking at the official launching ceremony of the website of the Distance Education Partnership Programme (DEPP) www.depp.lk and the signing of the memorandum of Understanding with pilot programme Institutions at the BMICH yesterday.

The Minister emphasised the value of using modern technologies to develop distance education. He said the aim of DEPP is to increase access to post secondary education in Sri Lanka through the development of distance education technologies.

The Private-Public partnership in distance education is the need of the hour to fulfil his Ministry's task of providing more facilities to the students who may loose their way after success in A' levels, the Minister said.

Project Director N. S. Abeywardena presented an overview of the DEPP and appreciated the Ministry's assistance towards the project. The progress of the Sri Lanka DEPP was reviewed by the International Team Leader (acting) Prof Mark Lamontage.

Local Team Leader DEPP Prof. Dayanta Wijesekera welcomed the invitees and Secretary of the Ministry Ariyarathna Hewage highlighted the importance of proper management of loans and investment fruitfully.