Welcome focus on human dimension

In a highly welcome move, the state has expressed willingness to continue talks with the striking university Dons in view of the hardships suffered by the languishing students concerned. This is the point of view which should be adopted, ideally, and we hope the academics would think likewise and continue to give negotiations a try.

As we have right along stressed, all sides to local conflicts would do very well to focus strongly on the common good, regardless of their apparent differences. In the case of this on-going tussle between the state and the Dons too, it is all-important that this ideal is not lost sight of. If this principle is adopted by the striking Dons, then, it should be plain to see that the interests of our grieving undergraduates and their parents need to be strongly taken into consideration. They need to keep in mind that well over 300,000 families are seriously affected by their strike action. Would they insist on going ahead with their work stoppage, while tens of thousands of their countrymen weep hopelessly in silence?

It is the learning careers of thousands of the younger generation which are thus affected. Included in this lot are those youngsters who have just sat for their Advanced Level examination. Their answer scripts are remaining unopened because those who are usually entrusted the task of evaluating answer scripts are out on the streets, at loggerheads with the state.

Therefore, the strike action by the academics is exacting a terrible and high human toll. Futures of the brightest among our young are being blighted and a long trail of human suffering is ensuing. It is important that this human dimension in the long drawn confrontation which our academics are having with the state is not lost sight of. In consideration of the common good that is thus being grievously harmed, we call on the Dons to make compromises with the state and resume their teaching function.

As we could see it, the academics cannot be too disgruntled about their salaries and connected grouses because they are relatively better off financially than those in other public sector jobs. Since the state is willing to continue the negotiatory process, we call on the Dons to dialogue with the state with a sense of realism towards bettering their financial prospects, rather than strive for gains which are beyond the realms of the possible.

It is of the utmost importance that both sides to the stand-off adhere to the highest standards of honesty and truthfulness. Pledges must be scrupulously kept and time frames, if any, strictly adhered to. The sides must ensure that neither loses confidence and faith in the other.

In view of the demand that six percent of Sri Lanka's GDP be allocated for the educational sector, the Dons would need to bear in mind that they are charged with the responsibility of bringing out graduates who would be well equipped to serve national needs very adequately. Thus far, this has not been happening to the desired degree, with the result that the majority of graduates who have not qualified in the medicine, science and engineering fields, only helping in swelling the ranks of the unemployed.

The responsibility for this veritable national crisis should be laid at the doorsteps of our university academics and one is prone to be skeptical whether the six percent allocation, if it comes true, would help in drastically changing this situation, considering that hardly any attempts have been made over the decades by our academic circles to bring out fully employable graduates in the non-science streams.

Accordingly, the striking academics should ponder long and deep on the issue of accountability. If agreements are going to be arrived at, then, the Dons should be resourceful and dynamic enough to stick to their end of the accords and help in bringing out graduates who would be assets to this country. Let not this campaign by the Dons be aimed at self-aggrandizement and nothing else.