I have a confession to make! I have
tried for 5 years to empower University Youth to put their future employability
and sense of well being and satisfaction as the highest of their priorities and
to carry out their tasks with this simple and understandable goal in mind.
If this was followed, then they have at
least a chance of achieving their life goals. They have always accepted that
premise, but have acted against that premise.
Voila you end up with the IUSF
demonstrations, completely at ODDS with the personal goals that should be
paramount.
Is this a herd instinct? Is it peer
pressure? Is it a threat of merciless ragging? I don’t have an answer yet to
that. However in my opinion, the Student in a State University who is getting a
cheap, free or subsidized Education does not seem to understand the reality of
the outside world which is very resistant to employing Graduates from Sri
Lankan State Universities due to a series of well found prejudices.
The article in the (link above) FT of Nov
4th 2015 sums it all in a nutshell
What should State Undergraduates be
demonstrating and demanding?
1
A
world class syllabus that is current. (not the outdated ones in use)
2
Well
paid and excellent academic staff, who are visionary and able to get the best out
of the students. (not those who hardly turn up, moonlight at private universities
and so take double pay, and NOT mark on merit but only on favoritism)
3
Facilities
to an international standard, including access to the latest scientific and international
journals. (lack of resources and untrained librarians unable to teach students how
to do research and write original thesis.
4
End
to ragging (as it creates slaves to unreasonable behavior)
5
Career
Counseling from year 1 with participation of Employers
6
Start
courses within 2 months of sitting for A levels (no time wasting)
7
Intensive
academic work restricting degree course to just 3 years.
8
Quality
over quantity to raise world rankings to top 100! Etc.
I could go on and on about legitimate grievances, these being some that came to my head whilst writing this blog post.
The bottom line, was that I failed in generating any interest as an alternative to the IUSF, as I was told that only one Student body was permitted under the rules to represent the students and they are always dominated by the JVP who have got themselves entrenched into the system just like the bricks and mortar and don't allow original ideas (a hallmark of intellectual discussion)
Further as students ONLY associate with their year and faculty, IT DOES NOT permit interfaculty discussions as even halls are segregated by faculty!!!
All this has to change if Students of Sri Lanka Universities are ever hope to get a fulfilling and productive job!
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