Changes to be made in Higher Education - SB

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Higher Education sector will be subjected to several key changes to meet the needs of the twenty first century and the ever advancing education sector, Higher Education Minister SB Dissanayake said.

Under the concept of creating a quality graduate who receives market value and recognition for the degree at the job market, four key changes will be made under the theme Higher Education for the Twenty First Century (HETC).

The HETC project introduced last year is funded by the World Bank which has already allocated US $ 40 million for it. Of the four phases of the HETC project, qualification framework for Higher education in Sri Lanka will be introduced.

Quality evaluation of degree and diploma programmes will also be carried out. Accordingly, attention will be drawn to curriculum, qualifications of the lecturer panels, library and laboratory facilities, examination and evaluation methods and procedures, educational environment, course appropriateness to the country, the job market and so on. A committee consisting of university lecturers will consider these criteria. The committee was advised to forward suggestions to the University Grant Commission by the minister.

"Instead of the teacher centred education method which is being carried out in many undergraduate programmes, a student centred education method will be introduced.

In addition, undergraduates will be provided English and Information Technology skills. English as a linking language and IT play a major role in the job market.

'Moreover, such knowledge is definitely a value addition to graduates", minister Dissanayake said.