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10,000 hike in University admissions for 2015: SB
View(s):Though 25,000 students were admitted to State universities this year, plans are afoot to enroll 35,000 students next year, said Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake.
Addressing a leadership training camp for university entrants in Diyatalawa, the Minister said that more Faculty buildings and hostels are being set up to cater to this increased intake in 2015.
“Three Engineering Faculties, one Postgraduate Engineering Faculty, one Postgraduate Science Faculty and a Technology University will be set up by next year. Meanwhile, of the 60 hostels under construction, 30 have been completed,” the Minister said.
Mr. Dissanayake said that the dire conditions in hostels previously was because students were not groomed at the time of entering university, as most of them were only exam-oriented.
“There was a time when entering a university hostel was an unpleasant experience. They did not even know how to keep a room clean. The leadership programme teaches students the importance of being clean and neat, as well as maintain discipline within the hostels,” he said.
According to the Minister, the 60 hostels to be used from next year, will have the facilities of a three-star hotel and are located in healthy and peaceful surroundings.
He said that university lecturers’ retirement age has been extended to 70 years, thereby getting the maximum from the educated human resources in the country. (NF)