Universities: Ethical values and human capital

Sri Lankan employment market seems peculiar in many ways. Officials claim unemployment has declined to a low level of 6.2%. Employers state they are unable to fill the vacancies but the graduates are marching on the streets demanding employment. The equation is having a serious imbalance.

This year we have witnessed some of the most violent student demonstrations in the heart of the city and around the ministry of Higher Education and the University Grants Commission reflecting a sad plight with huge yellow coloured barricades.

Peradeniya Campus was in turmoil recently when protesting students pulled down a plaque installed at a new residential facility reflecting the name of Sir Ivor Jennings the first Vice Chancellor of the University of Ceylon, Perhaps to students it was not only lack of gratitude but also the ignorance of history.

Little did they know about the contribution by Jennings to Sri Lanka not only as an educationist but also as a constitutional expert. Today's youth are increasingly becoming ignorant of the valuable contributions by the pioneers who did not have today's luxuries when they ventured out in this country.

John Weatherstone in his book "Pioneers", wrote "One hundred and fifty years ago the British Planter arriving in India or Ceylon could hardly expect a bungalow, a Deep Freezer, a Television- let alone an orderly estate of Tea Bushes. The scene would rather be the dense tropical jungle, disease-carrying insects, and prowling beasts of prey. He would work and live alone and bivouac for months on end under tropical rains with but the scantiest provisions."

Well the story of Jennings was no different coming to an alien land and embarking on a project that gave us the "Beautiful Peradeniya University" somewhat resembling the Oxford - Cambridge University village scenario and the culture. Amidst this salubrious and motivational atmosphere it's not surprising this university produced graduates of high quality who served the motherland with pride and also gave new life to our arts and culture with world class dramas like Maname and Singhabahu that remain as immortal masterpieces. Despite drastic changes of values culture, attitudes and politicization the Peradeniya University stands majestically among the Hantane Hills.

With all this said about the past it was yet another a sad sight outside the UGC last week when the students from the University of Sabaragamuwa slept on the pavement, perhaps not a sight any parent would want to see for themselves. Educating children and sending them to higher educational institutes is no easy task and the majority are not from affluent families.

According to the authorities these protests are common in newly set up universities lacking in basic facilities in contrast to established campuses like Colombo, Jayawardenapura, Moratuwa Kelaniya and Ruhuna. One clear fact that's emerging is that setting up universities in a hurry to find short term solutions adds more complexities. The other issue is the vast intake of students to faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities the study programmes of which remain much to be desired making employability of such graduates difficult. These two issues have been identified as major causes for student unrest. This chaotic atmosphere is also fully exploited by political opportunists who will not hesitate to use the poor misguided students as pawns to achieve their political targets.

It has to be clearly established that the state alone cannot be funding the universities to an extent that it could provide quality courses to meet the job market demand and facilities due to financial limitations. While the free education has definitely contributed to an educated population through a sound secondary school system similar success is not being achieved in the tertiary sector.

This could be well overcome by permitting degree awarding status to institutes that come up within the criteria under the UGC Act.

This will reduce the pressure in state universities as some of the entrants will opt for private universities. If courses like Accountancy, Marketing and IT could be effectively handled by the private sector why not allow the university system to work in partnership with the private sector rather than leaving room for student unrest in the universities. University graduates should be made to understand that a degree alone will not be a passport to employment and the public sector will not be able to create jobs in a free economy.

Apart from the employment benefits of the globalization rapid growth in the region too is now providing opportunities to those who possess the required skills. Sri Lanka is a country with an enormous potential for economic prosperity having an intelligent and resilient young human capital base in our quest for rapid growth.