Malabe education institute:

Higher education at low cost

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The proposed higher education institute to be set up at Malabe has created a lot of misunderstandings in the country. Under the Medical Council Act, doctors who pass out from this institute have to get through the Act 16 exam recommended by the University Grants Commission before they join the public service or private sector.

This is as same as the rules and regulations exist at the moment. Therefore there will not be any conflict between state sector and private sector, BOI Chairman Dhammika Perera said.

He was addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium on Thursday. He said although 118,000 students get through GCE A/L Examination and qualify to enter into universities every year only 16,000 students get the chance to study in State universities.

The other 102,000 intelligent and talented students are left without any option.

This institute will assist them to obtain higher education without paying millions of rupees to foreign universities.

The students who are to be enrolled into this higher education institute will be the successful candidates at the GCE A/L examination. Five percent of the scholarships will also be allocated for these students.

Priority will be given to members of Armed Forces children and Samurdhi beneficiary families children. After 30 years, this institute will be brought under the purview of a Board of Trustees appointed by the Higher Education Ministry, he said.

This institute will help Sri Lankan students to obtain education at a very low cost compared with the amount of money they pay for foreign universities, other educational institutions, accommodation, food and other requirements.

This venture is a US $ 5 million investment which has facilities to educate 1,200 students in business management, finance, IT, engineering, medical, languages and vocational training.

It will provide training in collaboration with the University of Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy in Russia, he added.