Striking academics pawns of bankrupt parties - student body

Ridma Disanayake

The National Movement for Educational Reforms yesterday said that Sri Lankan education systems needs a National Education Policy which will not change with ministers.

“The present education policy is changing from time to time with the education ministers. But it is not good for the country’s free education. It is due to the temporary change in education policy that certain groups are trying to create conflict situations in the education sector”, National Movement for Educational Reforms Chief Secretary Awantha Amaraweera said.

“The trade union action of the University Academic staff was an independent union action at the beginning. But at present it has become an action which supports several bankrupt political parties. The lecturers who are experiencing the benefits of the free education system are trying to destroy the free education system of Sri Lanka to fulfill their needs and wants”, he said.

Addressing a special press briefing held at the Nippon Hotel Amaraweera said that all parties involved in the Sri Lankan education sector should support to develop the free education system of the country.

The university academic staff is requesting six percent for the education sector from the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but they do not care about whether it is practical or not. The Sri Lankan education system needs vital reforms. There is a conflict in the Sri Lankan education system and over 270,000 students are suffering from it he said.