International funding to resume for higher education projects
View(s):A string of higher education projects held back due to the delay of funding from donor agencies is expected to resume soon, with Rs 24 billion due in the coming months, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha told Education Times.
The funding was held back from donor agencies including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Kuwait Fund, Saudi funding among others. The funding was stopped following the Government’s adverse economic situation last year and its declaration of an inability to repay loans.
The availability of the funds will help increase the number of faculties, annual admission, hostel accommodation, and provide infrastructure facilities, and enable the recruiting of more lecturers as well as non-academic staff.
In addition, the opening of computer study centres and upgrading the university system would also be possible if the funding is made available, he said.
He added that with the increase of admissions they would require about 4,000 more lecturers, and increasing the staff would be possible if the money is available.
He said there were several pending hostel projects – some of which are public-private partnerships – which would recommence.
Chairman, University Grants Commission, Prof Sampath Amaratunga said that among the faculties to be set up would be two medical faculties in the Moratuwa and Sabaragamuwa Universities. DWI
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