Halls of knowledge

Ishara Jayawardane

Every year hundreds of Advanced Level students wait in anticipation for their marks in the hope that they will be able to tread through the halls of knowledge. Unfortunately hundreds fail to enter. And only a select few are able to enter universities. However what is the criteria for admission? What is the standardization?

Vice Chancellor of the Colombo University Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama

University Grants Commission Chairman, Prof Gamini Samaranayake

Semester system, although a fairly new introduction to Sri Lankan Universities, has been the system in many countries. However through the Z score many students who would have never gained entrance otherwise are now enjoying the greener pastures on the other side of the fense.

The Z score and the Semester System will, doubtless, shape and form the outcome of education in Sri Lanka.

Before 2001 the University Grants Commission used the aggregate of the raw marks as the criterion in selecting students to universities. Now the Aggregate has been replaced by the Z score as the basis for university admission.

Transparency

Z score is prepared by the examination department and the cut off marks are issued on the basis of this. “Similar methods are used in the university student selection process of other countries” said Samaranayake.

Apparently there have been no complaints so far. The students are familiar with the system.

They are well aware before sitting the A-level examination as to what sort of grade they have to achieve in order to enter a particular faculty. Moreover there is transparency.

“We are very proud to say that there has been no space for manipulation and interference at all. There are no complaints of discrimination” said Samaranayake. The system has received favourable public attention, in spite of previous criticism. It is a tested admission system” reiterated Samaranayake.

Quality and relevance

It is easy to get marks for some subjects but there is no relevance or their quality is questionable, to some extent. The UGC had a problem in selecting the students on the basis of their raw marks.

Generally students select subjects not according to their quality and relevance but easy subjects which they can get good marks and enter the university. It creates a lopsided situation.

“We want to develop the human resources base in the country through university education. Therefore we have to follow a rational criterion for university admission. It required standardization. The Z score is not ‘unfair’ to anybody.

Anybody can do any subject but there is certain allowances for certain subjects on the basis of the quality of the subject” said University Grants Commission Chairman, Professor Gamini Samaranayake.

He further explained that there is a core subject for any discipline. Physics is compulsory for agriculture students. If they do not have knowledge in physics there is no point entering the Agriculture Faculty. Math is a very important subject for anything.

Students are very much aware of the situation. Consequently the UGC is in a position to accommodate the more knowledgeable student and prepare them to study any difficult subject. The Z score system was introduced to achieve just that – in order to make admission easier and more convenient to everybody.

Knowledge economy

The university education is directly involved in the development of the Human Resources base in any country. It is directly linked with the development of any country’s economy.

“We are talking about human capital. It is not just a matter of getting a certificate and expecting a the government to supply you with jobs, or the private sector for that matter.” emphasised Samaranayake. He explained that the latest trend in ‘education’ is ‘knowledge economy’.

Knowledge is the capital. A lot of changes are taking place based on this trend.