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NDF Manifesto pledges 7% of GDP for Education
View(s):New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Maithripala Sirisena in his manifesto on Friday made a series of pledges regarding Education which will be implemented, if elected President.
The following are some of the highlights of Mr Sirisena’s manifesto regarding Education.
The total provision for Education will be increased from the present 1.7% to 7%.
A regulatory mechanism will be worked out for all departments of Education from pre-school onwards. Accordingly, delays in admission of children to Grade 1 and Grade 6 after the Grade 5 scholarship exam, will be completely eliminated.
As there is a great demand in the country for 55 schools, while some rural schools are being closed down, a more extensive system of primary schools, another system of junior secondary schools feeding on the former, and a system of main schools catering to Advanced Level (A/L) students and feeding upon the latter juniors secondary system, will be set up.
Schools with facilities to study A/L Science subjects in the Tamil medium will be set up for children in the plantation community, in the districts of Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale and Kegalle.
International schools will come under the complete supervision of the Government. All their curricula will have to conform to the National Education Policy.
A methodology will be worked out to direct students to Tertiary Education based on their results at the GCE O/L and A/L frontier exams. The Higher Education sector will be completely restructured to develop human resources necessary for an inventive economy.
While the Mahapola scholarship grant will be increased to Rs 5,000, university students will be free to engage in part-time work.
The National university system will be expanded and the number of admissions doubled. Autonomy will be granted to universities, and university senates will be given the power to appoint and remove Vice Chancellors according to their policies.
All students who pass in three subjects at the A/L/ exam, will be granted Education loans to study for a higher Diploma/Degree according to their choice, under a long term concessionary loan scheme.
Institutions including the Youth Services Council, Youth Clubs and statutory federations will be freed from the grip of family nepotism and handed over to the youth. (The UPFA Manifesto will be released on Monday)