'Education shops' to be monitored -Minister S.B. Dissanayake

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

Educational ventures, including all tutories, carrying the name board 'Higher Education Institute' will be monitored and supervised to control and eliminate the operation of 'education shops', Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake said.

It has been reported that various entrepreneurs are running these so-called higher educational institutes for financial benefits rather than the quality of education.

Most of these institutions are run without having at least basic requirements needed for an educational institution.

According to Higher Education Ministry sources, the government's only objective is to expand education opportunities to all students, including a large section of students who fail to qualify for university entrance. Therefore, the government is committed to providing a quality higher education to these segments.

'With the policy decision of the government, private universities as well as educational institutions are welcome to operate in the country even though, the quality of these institutions should be highly maintained,' Minister Dissanayake said.

The minister further added that Budget 2012, which will be presented in Parliament this month, describes the current state of our university system. The budget will propose a three-year development initiative for all state universities aiming to make them more efficient and effective.

Funds have been allocated to transform the Peradeniya, Moratuwa, Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura, Kelaniya and Ruhuna universities to the level of world class universities.