Directory on ‘Alternative Higher Education Opportunities’ in Sri Lanka from Lirneasia
View(s):The Human Resources Research Programme of Lirneasia has prepared and published a directory named “CHOICES – Higher Education Opportunities after A/Levels”.
This directory provides the results of one of its research studies. Lirneasia, an IT and telecom-related research agency, said in a media release that it plans to carry out several in-depth researches into the higher education field of subject.
It plans to make the directory available at major super markets and prominent bookshops for the benefit of students who have completed advanced level, their parents or anyone who is desirous of obtaining a degree.
“Students who pass the GCE Advanced level examination do not get the opportunity to enter the public university system in the country. However, all who drop-out of the public education system at advanced level do not face life without higher education as opportunities for private higher education were available in the country for quite some time. Education Research of World Bank reported in 2005 that, though only around 5% of the students enroll in public universities and formal technical education, another 6% enroll in alternative higher education courses outside the system. So far, no one has either carried out an analysis or prepared a directory of alternative higher education opportunities exist in Sri Lanka. Stepping into this void, the Human Resources Research Program of Lirneasia has prepared and published a directory named ‘CHOICES – Higher Education Opportunities after A/Levels’,” the statement said.
This directory consists of details of 46 private institutions which offer higher education and 10 government institutes or programmes that offer higher education but enroll students without the mediation of the University Grants Commission. It gives information on 258 courses including 249 under graduate programmes and 5 degree- equivalent programmes. This information is arranged under four major fields namely Commerce, Computer Science/IT, Engineering and Other and in alphabetical order.
The time, duration and the cost of every course is included in the directory. The cost ranges from Rs.200,000, between 2 – 500,000 and so on. Though, 55% of the courses cost over one million rupees, it was revealed in the research that some courses could be completed with less thanRs 200,000. The average time period to complete degrees in this directory is 3 – 4 years. In addition to providing information on courses, enabling students to make an educated decision on which course to follow, directories of this nature are expected to raise awareness in the society of the concept that higher education of a child needs to be completed by the age of 21 or 22 and in turn, the public education system would also follow this concept with responsibility.
“Even if the private higher education institutions are often referred to as fake or phony, all degree awarding institutions stated by private education institutions included in this directory are approved by relevant authorities either in Sri Lanka or in foreign countries. Out of 51 foreign institutions included, 49 are reputed universities with international listing that are recommended by the UGC. There are credible evidences that the balance five, although not included in recommended lists, is also reputed institutions in their countries,” it said.
Follow @timesonlinelk
Related Posts:
Sri Lanka’s top military university offers medical degreesThe Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Sri Lanka’s top military academy, is looking at a niche market in the post-war era– ...
Several short term diploma courses for post A/L students from ESOFTThe ESOFT Education Institute has introduced several short term diploma courses for the benefit of the students who sat for ...
After A/L? Why waste timeOut of the students who sit the GCE A/L examination only around 10% can find places in the public sector ...
Free Air Tickets from BCAS to study in MalaysiaBCAS Campus has come forward to provide Free Air Tickets to students desiring to study in any of the institutions ...
ESOFT recruiting new students for BCS IT Higher Education Diploma coursesESOFT Computer Studies is currently in the process of recruiting new students for BCS HEQ diploma courses in IT of ...