Attempts to change laws and regulations on higher education

COLOMBO (News 1st): Details about an attempt to change laws and regulations of higher education was revealed during a media briefing convened by University Lecturers' Association today (July 30). The Higher Education (Quality Assurance and Accreditation) bill was also explained during the media briefing. Chairman of the University Lecturers' Association Dr Dileepa Witharana noted that this can be recognized as a step in transforming the University Grants Commission to an unimportant institution. He added that the act suggests appointing another commission to control and ensure the quality of educational universities. He pointed out that the membership in this commission is politicized and that there are 13 members here, out of which 4 are state employees. Dr. Witharana noted that President will appoint 9 out of the 15 as the Minister of Higher Education has suggested and the act recommends that 5 members are permanent. He added that one of them will be appointed as the Chairman. He noted that it further adds that a quorum of 5 members is required to conduct a session. Chairman Witharana said the method to propose this act is called Ëxternal Quality Assurance. He went onto note that this method is carried out by an investigation conducted by a group of external university lecturers at a higher education institute for a few days. He added that the issue is, the quality of a university cannot be determined by that method alone and this draft bill proposes a new program called "Cross Mobility." He noted that through this program, a student will be able to obtain a qualification from a Private Higher Education institute and enrol at a state university and he added that if the draft bill transforms into law, this high-quality state university system will collapse.