Call 1918 Higher Education Ministry UGC Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan President introduced the hotline 1918 for Higher Education and Education related matters.Students can call 1918 and get information about Higher Education and university related issues. The First call was given by the President.The 1918 Hot Line was launched at the Progressive review meeting of the Higher Education Ministry which held under the patronage of the President. Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake attended the meeting. 

Fire at Hapugala Engineering Faculty

A fire broke out at Hapugala Engineering Faculty Yesterday night. The fire was broke out at the library. Galle Fire Brigade has control the fire before it spread out. Meanwhile Police suspect cause of the fire due to an electrical leakage.

Return & Serve the Country-President appeals to University Lecturers

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa asked the university academic staff who are overseas on scholarships and other engagements using the common man's money to return to the Sri Lanka and serve the motherland to improve the educational level of universities.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa states that if expatriate university lecturers do decide to arrive in Sri Lanka, the government would provide them with concessions.

President Rajapaksa's comments in this regard came while addressing the progress review meeting which was held at the Ministry of Higher Education.

The President said those who have gone abroad are duty bound to serve the country as the money spent to send them is the hard - earned money of the common man. He said it is their duty to utilize their knowledge, thanks to free education, for the betterment of the country.

"The academic staff are badly needed here to impart what they learnt to the lesser fortunate children here and assist them to raise the standard of university education to move with the present day needs," he said.

"Come back and serve the country. You are sent overseas on scholarships and various other programmes with the hope that you would share your knowledge to improve the educational standard of our children. You are duty bound to serve the motherland because you have been sent on the hard earned money of the common man," the President said.

Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake said most of the academic staff abroad are keen to come back and rejoin the university system if they get government approval.

"Most members of the academic staff left the country owing to the reign of terror. After liberating the country from terrorism, most have expressed their desire to come back," he said.

The minister said most staff abroad on scholarships will have to pay a fine for breaking the agreement they signed.

The President said the government was ready to provide them relief and advised authorities to form a methodology to assist them.

Labuduwa Advanced Technological Institute- Clash

13 students of Labuduwa Institute of Advanced Technical Education were admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital following a clash between students of two faculties yesterday morning. Some of the students sustained head injuries.

Police spokesman Superintendent Buddhika Siriwardane told that the clash had erupted when the engineering students took over a lecture hall meant for management students around 9.00 a.m.

He said the students had even used clubs to attack each other following an argument.

Asked whether any student had been arrested, the Police spokesman said that the Akmeemana Police were recording statements from the students admitted to hospital and others.

Sri Lanka Asia’s Knowledge Hub 2020

The Sri Lankan Government’s main target is to meet the target of making Sri Lanka the Asia’s Knowledge Hub by the year 2020. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa made this reference joining in a discussion held at the Higher Education Ministry on the manner in which the 2013/2015 medium term should be implemented based on the Mahinda Chinthana policy. 

Attention was drawn to at this discussion with regard to the inclusion of topics which are of significance to the present era. The President took the initiative of finding on the spot solutions to problems experienced in this field. The President said that research of University lecturers beneficial to the country should be made use of via various Government institutions.

The President said that there are 17 Universities and 41 Research Institutes. This should be affiliated to national development. As an example the President recalled how a University lecturer told him of the success they had achieved in a research conducted at the Coconut Research Institute, for the insect that was harming coconut trees and that there was no need to cut down the affected tree, but it was not been used by the institutes. This he attributed to the links that are not being maintained by the two sides. An initiative should be taken to have some coordination between the Universities and development.
Universities in Sri Lanka have been upgraded in world rankings. The President emphasized that this should be further enhanced. It was underscored at this discussion that in addition to the establishment of University villages, concepts such as building knowledge towns should be put into action. The President issued instructions to further improve facilities in Universities.
The President also launched the new websites of the Higher Education Ministry and also introduced the hotline 1918 of the Education Ministry.

President Rajapaksa said allocations for higher education and the uplift of the universities should be utilised properly. "Academic staff should be provided the latest knowledge. Universities should be converted to research and experiment centres. Then only the university education links with the ever - changing and advancing world," he said.

President Rajapaksa told the authorities to take measures to solve drinking water and hostel issues at universities. A graduate should be job - oriented and equipped to take up any challenge in the competitive environment, the President said.

He said a graduate should be a person of quality, equipped with multiple skills and capable of taking the country forward.

He said there should be a link between universities and other institutions engaged in research and development. "The academic staff should also be dedicated to create a capable student community enriched with knowledge and skills. Universities and academic staff are path finders to the modern world," the President said.

He said modern undergraduate courses should be introduced to the university system with immediate effect including petroleum technology, space science, aeronautical engineering, robotic etc. 

1918 Sri Lanka University Hotline

The Sri Lankan President introduced the hotline 1918 for Higher Education and Education related matters.

Students can call 1918 and get information about Higher Education and university related issues. The First call was given by the President.

The 1918 Hot Line was launched at the Progressive review meeting of the Higher Education Ministry which held under the patronage of the President. Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake and Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake attended the meeting. 

Students - Call 1918 & Get Experts' Advises to Higher Education related Issues

Sports Compulsory in Schools and Universities

Sri Lankan Government has decided to make sports a compulsory activity in schools and universities. The aim of the new measure is to build a healthy nation and to produce international-caliber athletes.

Participation of school students in sports activities is low in Sri Lanka due to the competitive national exam structure. According to the government only five percent of the students following primary education in the country are engaged in sports activities due to the heavy focus on studies.

Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Higher Education and S.B. Dissanayake and Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage jointly have proposed to implement physical education and sports programmes within the school system and universities, so that students with special skills and abilities in sports activities could be identified and assistance provided to achieve national and international levels in the field of sports.

Under the proposal least one sport will be compulsory for all students from 2013 and sports will be a core subject for GCE Ordinary Level (O/L).The cabinet has approved the joint proposal made by the three ministers.

Sri Lanka Ocean University(NIFNE) Establishment

Establishment of the Sri Lanka Ocean University

The cabinet proposal made by Dullas Alahaperuma, Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development with regards to the establishment of the Sri Lanka Ocean University in place of the National Institute of Fisheries and NauticalEngineering (NIFNE) was approved by the Cabinet to refer the relevant bill to the Cabinet Sub-Committee on legislation for recommendations.

Some of the main objectives of the establishment of the said University are as follows:

Develop the knowledge and skills of persons who are engaged in fisheries and its related fields and do not qualify to enter Universities

Conduct relevant courses for the middle level persons in professional, scientific, technological and management fields to obtain recognized qualifications.

Conduct courses of study for those who possess the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) so as to upgrade their efficiency and acquire higher educational qualifications.

Ocean University of Sri Lanka (NIFNE),

No 15, Crow Island,

Mattakuliya,

Colombo 15.

TEL  : 011 4346973

Fax   :  011 4346993

Foreign Students apply to Sri Lankan Universities

More than 300 applications had been received from foreign students, to enter Sri Lankan universities, in the next academic year, the Higher Education Ministry said yesterday.

Secretary to the Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that Sri Lanka had offered scholarships to around 50 foreign students.

"We will accommodate a small percentage of foreign students in Lankan universities, done under the scholarship scheme and the others who will be paying students," he said.

Dr. Navaratne said they introduced the full scholarship programme to enhance links with other countries in the world.

Most Sri Lankans went overseas on full scholarships, but they return after completing their studies without contributing anything to those countries, he said adding that the country could now pay back in some way by offering scholarships to foreign students.

The Secretary said that most of the foreign students were seeking entry to the Moratuwa, Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya, Rajarata and Sabaragamuwa universities.

Dr. Navaratne said currently there were 435 fee paying foreign students following undergraduate and post graduate courses in Sri Lankan universities.

Most of them study Buddhism in the Buddhist and Pali University; he said adding that the rest were engaged in bio – diversity studies, archeology, irrigation, and conflict resolution and peace studies.

"Most postgraduate students conduct research in Sri Lanka and they are published in international journals," Dr. Navaratne said adding it was a recognition for the country.

Extract From Online Island 

Medical Faculties to Upgrade in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Health Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry have come to an agreement to upgrade academic activities in all Medical Faculties in state universities.
A discussion was held at the Health Ministry with the participation of Health Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke and Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne in this regard.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena has advised health authorities to release specialist doctors and consultant doctors from official duty from state hospitals to enable them to conduct lectures at Medical Faculties. Doctors will be released on priority basis.
A joint mechanism will be formulated to identify and address issues and shortcomings at Professor Units at Teaching Hospitals. A mechanism will also be formulated to decide the system of releasing specialist doctors and consultants for Medical Faculties.

Sri Lanka School Principals to Get Military Titles

Some 4,000 school principals have been called for interviews at the Cadet Corps Headquarters next week to be awarded military titles, raising more concerns over the militarization of more than 50 per cent of the schools in the country.
The letters sent out by the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps (SLCC) state that officials of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service who hold the post of principal and those in Grades I and II of the principal’s service have been asked to attend the interviews on March 4, 5 and 6. They are expected to be awarded the titles of lieutenant, major or captain.
A SLCC spokesman who wished to remain anonymous confirmed that interviews would be held next week and titles awarded after a 45-day period of training.
Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin who objected to this move said out of the 9,662 schools in this country more than 50 per cent would be administered by a military official.
“This is a complete militarization of the school system and a heavy blow to its independence because these schools will be managed not only by the Education Ministry but under the intervention of the Defense Ministry,” Mr. Stalin said.
He the principals who would be absorbed into the military service through this programme and thus lose their right to engage in political activities.
Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said although the Education Ministry approved the awarding military titles to school principals imagining that it would build discipline in schools but simply donning a military uniform would not help maintain discipline.
Last year some 23 principals, mostly from popular schools in Colombo including Ananda College, Devi Balika Vidyalaya and Nalanda College were awarded the title of colonel after ten days of training at the Rantambe Cadet Camp. Extract From Online Daily Mirror

FUTA-Sri Lanka University Lecturers 6% again

University lecturers in Sri Lanka are looking at re-commencing the agitation campaign to win their demand of a 6 percent budgetary allocation to the education sector.
The Federation of University Teachers' Association (FUTA) has said that the government has failed to keep its pledge and pay attention to their demand of a 6 percent budgetary allocation for the education sector.
FUTA Spokesperson Dr. Mahim Mendis said the agitation campaign would be re-launched with the help of a large number of trade unions.
He noted that the government has not paid attention to granting higher provisions for primary, secondary and tertiary education and there has not been any progress shown in the education sector since the lecturers called off their 100 day strike action last October.
The FUTA plans to launch mass demonstrations and awareness campaigns as part of their agitation campaign.
The academics, who continued a three-month long strike last year, ended their trade union action after the government and the trade union reached an agreement on their demands for a pay raise and 6 percent budgetary allocation. Extract From Colombo Page

Attend leadership program before University Registration

Students who had received letters asking them to register with universities and those scheduled to participate in the fourth batch of the leadership training programme, on the same day, would have to complete the leadership training first, Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said.
Students selected for universities, based on GCE (Advanced Level) 2011 results, received letters asking them to be registered on March 04. However, a section of students were also instructed to participate in the fourth batch of the leadership training programme on the same day.
Dr. Navaratne said that the ministry had instructed students who had missed the first three stages of the leadership training programme to attend the final stage scheduled to begin on March 04.
"Those students will have to go for leadership training first prior to registration," he said.
The secretary said they could register at their respective universities within one week after completing the leadership training programme on March 20.
"We selected 4,000 students for the fourth stage of the leadership training," Dr. Navaratne said, adding that it would be conducted in military establishments countrywide.
He said that the third stage of leadership training programme would end on February 28.  Extract From Online Island

GCE O/L Practical Tests March 4

The GCE Ordinary Level 2012 (O/L) practical tests are scheduled to commence on March 4, at 1111 centres islandwide, Sri Lankan Examination Commissioner General W. M. N. J. Pushpakumara said.

He said that 115,000 students are listed to attend the practical tests in Dancing and Music. The tests will be held until March 14.

Pushpakumara said that nearly 5,000 teachers would be deployed at the centres countrywide to supervise the tests

2012 A/L Best Performing Schools in Sri Lanka

2012 A/L Examination Performance Index has been released by the Research and Development Branch of the Examinations Department.

Sri Lankan Examination Commissioner General W. M. N. J. Pushpakumara said, according to the Performance Index, by Subject and School, Visakha Vidyalaya and Devi Balika Vidyalaya came first and second, while Royal College, Colombo and Rathnawali Balika, Gampaha came third in the Bio Science and Physical Science streams.

He said that the first, second and third places in the Commerce and Arts streams were taken by Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo, Rathnawali Balika Vidyalaya, Gampaha and Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo respectively.

Pushpakumara said that the highest in history, of those passing the GCE (A/L) percentage-wise was 63.15 and that had been recorded this year, as the ministry implemented several projects to enhance the knowledge of students.

Best Performing Schools - Science & Maths Streams

1. Vishaka Vidyalaya Colombo

2. Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo

3. Royal College Colombo

Best Performing Schools - Commerce & Arts Streams

1. Devi Balika Vidyalaya Colombo

2. Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya Gampaha

3. Vishaka Vidyalaya Colombo

A/L Technology Stream Syllabus

A/L Technical Subject Course Out Line Download here Sinhala & Tamil - 
http://www.nie.lk/Teche.html

Download here
Sinhala & Tamil 

The Education Ministry would introduce a new stream for the GCE (Advanced Level) examination from 2015, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

He said that the new stream would be named ‘Technology’ stream, mostly based on skills of students.

"We will introduce the new stream in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development," Gunawardena said adding that the preliminary preparations for the new stream had already been completed.

He said that Technology would be introduced to students from May this year and the first batch of students would sit the examination, under the new stream, in 2015.

According to Gunawardena, this decision was taken by the government to introduce job oriented education at school level to students.

The minister said that with the new addition the A/L subject streams would be increased to six - Bio Science, Physical Science, Commerce, Arts, Other and Technology.

Education Monitoring MP Mohan Lal Grero said that the Computer Science subject was compulsory for the new stream and students could select either Computer Hardware or Computer Software as the second subject.

"We will give the students freedom to select another subject from the subject basket as the third subject," he said.

Grero said that the introduction of new stream was handled by experts from the National Institute of Education, National Education Commission, Education Ministry and University of Vocational Technology.

He said that they had already trained 300 teachers handle the subjects under the new stream and more teachers would be recruited. Extract from Online Island

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