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Cabinet approves KDU Act for it to enrol SAITM students
Cabinet approved on Tuesday (22), to amend the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Act, which will enable it to absorb 982 SAITM students, a senior official said.
Higher Education Ministry Secretary J.J. Rathnasiri told the Sunday Times, the draft of the amended KDU Act, now with the Attorney General’s Dept, will be submitted to Parliament in due course.
However, the SAITM students claimed they were kept in the dark about this and other issues they wish to discuss with the authorities.
Student Action Committee of SAITM (SACS) Convener Shanaka De Saram said they had, had no inkling of anything regarding the progress of the KDU Act amendment, despite numerous attempts to contact the HEM.
Mr. De Saram said their most important concern now was a time frame by when things would materialise beyond the Cabinet paper stage. “To date, things are restricted to the paper stage, while we would like to know when our case would be resolved,” he said.
“It is difficult for us as students, to concentrate on our studies, when our future remains uncertain.”
Another serious concern is the civil status of the SAITM students and how this would be reconciled in a military university.
SACS Secretary Chathushka Rambukwella said this was their greatest concern after the time frame issue.
“We enrolled as civilian Medical students, hence, we have questions regarding how this would be treated once we are admitted to KDU,” Mr. Rambukwella said.
Other concerns are entry requirements to KDU, matters of payment, recognition of qualifications by the Sri Lanka Medical Council, internship for two graduate batches and pathways of postgraduate studies, once enrolled into KDU.
“We hope to discuss these with the Minister of Higher Education and other relevant parties, as soon as possible,” Mr. Rambukwella said.
Regarding the entry requirements, Mr. De Saram said it would be unfair to judge the SAITM students based on the KDU’s minimum entry requirements.
“We enrolled in a University Grants Commission (UGC)-recognised Degree-awarding institute, based on the UGC’s minimum requirements, hence, it is only fair our entry into KDU should be judged the same.”
Last week, Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe told the Sunday Times he would provide answers for these queries following Cabinet approval of the KDU Act amendment. However, a response has not yet been received.
Mr. De Saram also expressed concerns regarding the opposition to this solution from various quarters, including the Colombo University’s Medical Faculty lecturers.
“We hope the Government will not bend to every single protest that is carried out against us and further stall this process. We are willing to sit down and have a discussion with the opposing parties and the authorities, and address their concerns. However, we sincerely hope, no politically motivated protest will get in the way of the passage of this solution.”
Mr. Rambukwella concluded saying things would be a lot easier if the Government and the authorities maintained direct contact with the students, to keep them updated accurately, on a regular basis.