One of the noteworthy features of the Sri Lankan education system is ‘accessibility’ to education for all irrespective of ethnicity, gender, caste, class, religion or social background. The results of such a scheme can be seen in the high level of literacy across the country and the emancipation of women in society. We can indeed [...]

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Higher Education in Sri Lanka

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One of the noteworthy features of the Sri Lankan education system is ‘accessibility’ to education for all irrespective of ethnicity, gender, caste, class, religion or social background. The results of such a scheme can be seen in the high level of literacy across the country and the emancipation of women in society. We can indeed be proud as a nation for the social progress that has been achieved in the education sector over the last several decades.

While it is true that accessibility to education has created a level playing field in the primary and secondary education sector, the same cannot be said about the tertiary education sector. With nearly 300,000 students sitting for the GCE Advanced level examination and over 100,000 qualifying to enter a university, the state universities are able to absorb only 21,000 to their courses each year.

In the context of not even 25% of those qualifying for university admission securing a place, the students have no option but fallback on the private sector to quench their thirst for higher knowledge. Hence, we now see a proliferation of institutes, colleges and schools that provide tertiary education in Sri Lanka.

‘Faith’ – The key word

Any employer will confirm that one of the essential traits they look for in a prospective employee is self confidence. Good employees can be distinguished from those that are average and mediocre purely by the level of confidence they exude. Building self confidence is a process that cannot happen overnight. It starts by having faith in yourself on what you are capable of and what you can do. Faith in one’s self translates to faith in one’s decisions and actions. Such decisive and confident individuals will naturally appear a cut above the rest in a crowded market place. Individuals cannot be expected to believe in themselves unless they have been molded and formed in a setting that not just imparts knowledge but also shapes their character. Hence, it is imperative that any higher education that a person engages in will build faith in abundance and build up confidence to face challenges of the modern world.

Curriculum is Crucial

Any Undergraduate course should have a curriculum that is comprehensive and relevant to the present context. The programme of study should address core areas of the disciplines that it targets. The assessment of the course content should be carried out in order to test the thinking capability of the student and the ability to apply learning to practical scenarios. Any scheme of assessment which merely seeks to examine how much a student knows (or do not know for that matter) cannot be considered as doing justice to the curriculum irrespective of the subject area.

Facilities Make a Difference

Learning can only occur in an environment which is stimulating and encouraging. Hence, the physical infrastructure, teaching and learning aides and reading material should support a voyage of discovery for the student. The use of technology and learning through electronic media are now taken for granted. Many respected universities in the world provide their students with access to large databases of research, provide core reading material and also provide personal computers with campus wide Wi-Fi facilities as standard offerings to compliment comfortable classrooms.

Faculty – A key factor

Advancement in technology has replaced the need for human interaction in many spheres of life. Education is one industry where the value of human input cannot be fully replaced with automation. Learning is a personal process. The influence of tutors, their guidance, coaching and mentoring remains as key elements in an interactive learning experience. Therefore, one must consider the credentials, experience and standing of those who are responsible for delivering a good degree programme.

Opportunities for growth 

Any education system must support and sustain growth and maturity of the individual both intellectually and in personality. The academic programme has to be complimented by activities which develop soft skills, enable working together in teams and building confidence. Learning can easily be integrated with the enhancement of social skills that will help people stand out of the crowd. Any programme which does not cater to aspects of personality development will not succeed in producing high performing talent. Confidence is what propels faith in one’s self while faith enables an individual to surmount obstacles along the way.

The choice of higher education has a direct bearing on the future of a student. The three or four years that a student spends in an undergraduate course will determine his/her quality of life and fulfillment for the rest of the working life (Sometimes spanning over four decades). Therefore, it is crucial that the selection of the programme of study and a place in which to pursue such study is a decision that is taken with due care. Decisions that are based on credible information, reliable reference and sound judgment will always pay dividends for life.




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