Friday Forum bats for education

The Island, August 17, 2012, 9:52 pm 

By Ravi Ladduwahetty

The Friday Forum yesterday cited a series of issues in the education sector which it said, was of utmost national importance in the larger interest of the vital sector of the economy.

The issues which were raised in at a news conference themed : " The crisis in the education sector," held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday afternoon, revolved round the lack of priority for consultative policy planning, political appointees being appointed for key posts, Militarisation of education, and Trade Union action by the Federation of University Teachers Association.

Former Vice Chancellor of both the Colombo and Open Universities and Professor of Law Prof Savithri Goonesekera in her opening remarks, said that there was a need to create a public debate on the education policy and what was happening in the current scenario

She also said that there was a need for the universities to have autonomy which was specified in the University Act, but what was happening was that the University Grants Commission was being politicized.

Prof. Gunasekera also commented at large on the lack of priority for Consultative Policy Planning in the educations sector.

When asked for perceptions and what he thinks of the trade union action of the Federation of University Teachers Association ( FUTA), retired career Diplomat Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala said that the perceptions of the Friday Forum on the FUTA activities was based on the broader perspective of the issues and not the trade union action.