Let academics return

President Mahinda Rajapaksa it is reported had invited those University teachers who had left the country to obtain their doctorates and Masters to return to the country and resume their former teaching posts. These academics had gone abroad to advance their learning prospects after entering into a bond with the State. It is reported that more than 1,000 such teachers have not returned in violation of the agreement. These teachers and lecturers had been sent to foreign Universities for advanced qualifications at State expense and thus it is only natural that the Government feels cheated by their failure to return.

True, a bulk of these lecturers opted not to return due to the unsettled conditions in the country. But they cannot hide behind the same excuse any more. The country is rid of terrorism and life is back to normal. Besides there are new developments unfolding in the higher education sphere such as the decision to reopen branches of reputed foreign universities that offer them scope and opportunities.

Now that the Cabinet has granted approval to enable these lecturers to return despite their violating the bond agreement, it is hoped they will seize on this opportunity to render their service to the Motherland at this crucial juncture. It is after all the State that spent for their scholarships out of taxpayers’ money.

They therefore owe something to the general public who foot the bill for their foreign studies. Ignoring this fact would tantamount to an act of treachery particularly at this stage of the country’s re-emergence from the ashes of war where their contribution as academics cannot be overemphasized. Already some of these teachers have returned to the country no doubt driven by a sense of conscience.

The President has often reiterated that he desires to employ local skills and expertise in the redevelopment exercise and these academics with their specialised training will be needed to offer their guidance to create a rich pool of local talent who would be equal to the task to the challenges confronting the nation in this new era of independence. This more than any other factor should prompt them think of returning to the country and give of their optimum to the nation that nurtured and nourished their academic careers.

The country has witnessed a huge brain drain in the recent past. Yet the State had been magnanimous in funding the education of these academics abroad taking a risk knowing that the chances of them being lured into greener pastures was a reality. This alone should warrant a suitable reciprocity on their part. At a time Sri Lanka is emerging from the ruins of war and marching towards a new era of development and progress the country needless to say would need all the human resources it could muster to realize this objective.

It need not be stressed here that the academic community forms an integral part of this plan to guide and train the young in the new skills and disciplines applied in the context of modern development challenges. The country cannot be expected to move forward without the necessary human resources at our disposal.

The President it would be recalled invited all Lankan professionals domiciled abroad to return to the country and avail of their skills and expertise in the development effort at the very outset since the end to the war. It is however equally important that we do everything possible to retain our homegrown professionals within our fold and provide them with the overseas exposure to hone and develop their special attributes.

In this context the Government should also ensure that for academics who return after obtaining advanced qualifications it would be worth their while. We say this because the major cause for the brain drain is the discontent, frustration and disgruntlement of academics in this country for the shoddy treatment meted out to them.

It was recently revealed that a University Professor after years of toil and sacrifice burning the midnight oil to get through the many stages of the academic ladder today receives a paltry salary of Rs 55,000 a month while a common salesman who had barely passed his O-Ls receive double this sum by way of sales commission.

No wonder our teachers and academics are fleeing the country in droves even not thinking of their duty to the country. The Government should immediately set about resolving this glaring anomaly and treat the country’s intelligentsia and academics deservingly. Only then will they feel a sense of belonging and return to serve their country. They should be given all the incentives in order to lure them back to the country to retain them in the service of the Motherland.