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University academics' strike:
Govt has not abandoned win-win formula - Keheliya
Disna Mudalige
Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella requested
university lecturers to resume work by looking at the issues practically
without expecting 100 percent solutions to their problems.
Addressing a press conference at the ministry auditorium yesterday,
the minister said the government has not abandoned its efforts to
negotiate with the academia to arrive at a win- win situation.
He said striking lecturers held another session of talks with Finance
Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara. Rambukwella said the six percent
allocation of the GDP for education is made only in 36 countries, adding
that Sri Lanka too will be very happy if it can reach the position.
He said there are questions as to whether it is practical while
maintaining free education.
The minister said among the 9,700 schools in Sri Lanka, 9,400 are
governed by the Provincial Councils and money has been allocated to the
Provincial Councils to provide facilities.
Rambukwella said the money spent for education by indirect means are
not accounted when calculating the percentage of the GDP for education.
He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who believes the future of the
children is the future of the country, will not allow the education
sector to collapse, but provides maximum facilities for the development
of education.
Commenting on issues in the examination process, the minister said
the government cannot allow bankrupt political parties to use students
for their ulterior motives by taking them onto streets even over minor
issues.
He said Sri Lanka Teachers' Association General Secretary Mahinda
Jayasinghe is no more involved in the teaching profession, adding that
he is also a candidate at the upcoming election in the Kegalle district.
He said the CID which investigated the alleged leak of the Grade Five
scholarship examination has found no evidence to prove that claim.
The minister said even Jayasinghe admitted he made that statement
without concrete evidence. |
