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Reforms Section on Higher Education website to encourage public participation
View(s):The Higher Education Ministry, under new State Minister Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, has allocated a new Reforms section on the Ministry’s website http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150208/, to encourage public contributions.
Those interested can forward their submissions, not exceeding 600 words, to reforms@mohe.gov.lk in any of three languages.
“We will also set up a section on the website for the public to check on the current Universities Act, plus changes that have been proposed recently,” the Minister said.
The Minister himself has made his observations, suggestions and proposals in the Reforms section, and is seeking fresh ideas, responses and to stimulate debate in all three languages.
“Sabaragamuwa students told me they have around 20 contact hours a week, which is absurd. University students should not need to attend so many lectures. Staff must learn to encourage reading and thinking, and syllabuses should be streamlined, as pouring knowledge into students that will not be used again makes no sense, compared with developing competencies for the world of work and society,” the Minister said in his observation.
Prof Wijesinha suggested more time and space for extra-curricular activities, as well as space for self study is needed.
“We now have an endless cycle of increasing admissions and then finding that buildings and staff are not enough. We must, sooner rather than later, work out a system of admissions that reduces the wasted time,” he suggests.
Minister Wijesinha also highlights the importance of having Faculty reading rooms or libraries. He said there is a need to set up relationships with reputed academic publishers without delay, and perhaps start a University Press, perhaps with CUP or OUP or Longmans, to collaborate initially.
“They need not be equipped with large numbers of expensive books, but multiple copies of basic texts made available. Standing Committee on Humanities to draw up basic reading lists for all subjects. The students said that they had not read anything recent, and the Economics ones had not heard of Friedman, being still stuck, it seems, with Adam Smith and Keynes,” the Minister said.
The Minister said he has received some helpful ideas from academics to the reforms email.
“I am not sure though that I will be able to respond myself to all suggestions, but I will ensure my staff does, and also highlight the more interesting ideas in postings on the Reform section of the website.”
“Most interesting perhaps was a request to take the SAARC University more seriously,” he added.
The Minister also suggests restricting unnecessary functions. “This will be simple to follow, as I dislike ceremonies, but more important is to get the system to realise how wasteful such performances are,” he said.
The Minister also suggested on improving career guidance for students, more focused research, setting up university bookshops, pre-university requirements etc.
With regard to transparency, the Minister suggested giving an opportunity to students to ask questions about this from the relevant officers.
“Such a meeting should be only about clarifications, any suggestions for better value for money should be sent in writing to Vice-Chancellors after such meetings”, he said, adding that, the December expenditure of the Ministry is now on the website.
The Minister suggested more active collaboration with research organisations.
“I was disappointed to find that only Jaffna and Wayamba had replied to the Nanotechnology Institute – please ensure that all letters receive responses. There is no harm at all in negative responses, but do not leave matters unattended to,” Prof Wijesinha said.
The Minister is also looking for ideas on obtaining volunteers for Language teaching, particularly in English, enhancing extra curricular activities, ensuring better maintenance, including regular inspections of buildings and facilities by university authorities, ensuring accessible quality teaching for external Degree students by setting up regional centres in collaboration with Provincial Ministries of Education. (NF)