University admissions procedure accurate, transparent - Higher Education Minister

Uditha Kumarasinghe, Irangika Range and Sandasen Marasinghe

Higher Education Minister Prof. Wishwa Warnapala told Parliament yesterday that the appointed appeal board will do the justice for the 102 students who had lost their university entrance due to registering at the Higher Technical Institutions for the various courses.

Responding to the adjournment motion moved by JVP MP Samantha Vidyaratna, regarding equal opportunity for the all students who have qualified for University entrance, the Minister said that there are only 102 cases remaining and some of them have already withdrawn their registration at the Higher Technical Institutions.

The University Grants Commission has been informed to do justice and open the doors for them for entering Universities.

He said that the law has to be amended to this effect and the proposals have already been sent to the Attorney General for seeking legal assistance.

The Minister said that the admission procedure should be worked out in an accurate and transparent manner. Regulations have been formulated to provide an equal opportunity for all students.

He said hand books are usually sent to students individually. It mentions all rules and regulations. Principals in the Higher Technical Institutions have been directed to instruct the students before they register.

He said that 280 students who got registered in Higher Educations Institutions have been rejected. This situation has prevailed in the country for a long time. But the pathetic situation is that the 20 percent of students who registered in the Higher Technical Institutions do not continue their studies. It is the reason for introducing of this law.

JVP MP Samantha Vidyarathna said that many students had lost their chances to the enter Universities due to registering at Higher Technical Institutions for the courses.

"I discussed this matter with the Chairman of the University Grants Commission and he accepted that there is a problem in this regard. A number of talented students have lost the chance to enter University due to this reason."

This shatters of dreams of both students and their parents. A/L Students register in the Higher Technical Institutions for the studying of various courses and once the university admissions are called, they apply for the University entrance by resigning from their courses.

A/L students do not know the law. The Directors also in the Higher Education Institutions have assured them that this opportunity would not be a bar for University entrance.

JVP MP Bimal Rathnayaka said that there are limited higher education opportunities available in the country. Only 225,000 students are able to qualify for O/L while 200,000 students qualify for A/L.

The numbers of students who gained university entrance last year was only 17,500. The person with the right qualifications should be entitled for University entrance.