A university is not only a place which gives knowledge and produces scholars but also the heart of a country's future and a decisive force for a nation's economic and social development. This oasis of the learned is a lifeline of a nation. But the sheer irony is when some people who as students benefited from this oasis try to destroy them acting as if they are blind and deaf. It is not clear why the heart of a nation's future, the university system is being threatened. Thus it requires to be analyzed thoroughly. We need to ask ourselves whether we can turn a deaf ear when an ungrateful person insults and under rates the learned and resourceful academics when they solemnly asks to respect their rights, students development and thus the development of the whole education system of the country as a whole. Who is a university academic? What is the social opinion on them? Let us firstly consider that. It is common knowledge that only a tiny fraction of the Advanced level student community gets the golden opportunity to enter university. And it is the best of this fraction, the cream of the countries that become academics and take on the formidable task to pass on the knowledge to the next generations. And most of them gain their higher qualifications in foreign universities to widen their knowledge. Even though they are highly respected in those lands they still rush back to their homeland for the love they have towards the motherland, for the thirst they have to produce valuable and learned professionals. And it is downright unacceptable to refer to them as traitors whilst they toil here in the home soli when their colleagues earn high salaries on the other side of the world.
The trade union action of the university lecturers can be considered as a burning issue which hasn't caught the interest of the public but affects the country and
its future. And the important point here is that the government interprets this as an action taken for the sole purpose of rising salaries to 200.ooo LKR. And has even accused lecturers of working under a political agenda and a force which tries to put a halt to the aim for Sri Lanka to become the Asia's centerpiece for education. So it is evident that the government has tried to give a false impression to the general public and weaken the university system rather than solving the pressing problems. This unfortunate situation has given a burden to the university students. That is to take this forum which has so far taken place only among the learned, to the general public as this action has become a struggle to safeguard the national university system. The methodology in practice for the administration of the university system differs heavily from that in place for the departments, corporations and boards. The University Grants Commission is established according to the University Act, and this commission oversees permitting academic programes and certification of their quality apart from the common duties of granting financial requirements and allocation of students from the Advanced level examination. Each university is then controlled by relevant department boards, faculty boards, senates and councils. This methodology is enacted by the Act thus confirming the integrity of the universities from the higher education minister or the UGC president.
The above mentioned boards (apart from the council) are functioned by voluntary positions held by lecturers without any sort of remuneration. These posts include positions from the Vice Chancellor and department heads to the Student advisor and Welfare official. These duties are undertaken after all the professional duties such as researching, publication, and lecturing. Unlike in private organizations these positions are not remuneration based motivated but rather self motivated. And it has become a proud university tradition.
Today, a senior professor only gets 57,755 LKR salary with all benefits added. A central bank employee who is considered to be in a similar job status receives 150,000 LKR. This show how valid is the action taken by university lecturers. Yet the politicians have turned a deaf ear towards this. It was back in 1996 that they received a salary increase. And the present inflation has posed a severe problem to them. And ironically this cost to the government is actually an investment to the future of our country. Comparing with other South Asian countries Sri Lankan lecturers get the lowest salaries. And our higher education receives a very small margin of national GDP when looking at other countries. So is it sufficient to make required engineers, doctors, managers, accountants etc. And would it bring the best out of these highly resourceful lecturers when they are forced to work in disappointment and depression. Is this the strategy to make Sri Lanka the Asia's Miracle? When students and lecturers are displeased alike the only party that gains is the private universities that are proposed to commence soon. Then what would happen to the proud free education system that has given so much to this country and it people?
Even though Sri Lanka is a third world country it is a breeding ground of scholars. Thus Sri Lankan lecturers have a huge demand abroad. And due to the negligence ofauthorities we have lost more than 500 scholars in the past 4 years. But so far no action has been taken to block this knowledge flow. However authorities have turned to start private universities endangering the free education of this country. And make shortsighted stupid comments such as doing lectures only do a lecture for two hours forgetting the days of effort and preparation put in to do that lecture. These so called leaders try to put up degree boutiques as they cannot comprehend university is a birth place for scholars and not a money generating shop.
The responsible people for this crisis are trying to avoid this by giving a wrong impress to the general public. But in reality this trade union action not only affects university student community but also the entire student population of this country. The Advanced level examination papers are made by university lecturers. The marking processes also carried out under their supervision. Thus if this problem is not solved soon the A/L examinations will not be held under proper conditions. What does this imply on an average family in this country? The parents who toil to see their children become university graduates will not see their dreams fulfill. And it is not an easy task to spend on foreign or private universities. Amidst all this a foreign scholarship program is also started. And now students can only stand watching when their university dreams vanish in front of them. In conclusion it is clear that the free education in under threat today and it has to be stopped at its start. And that is to solve this university lecturer’s salary issue.
So let us join hands to stand against these corrupted leaders who betray their own conscience at the sight of wads of dollars, and insult these lecturers who peacefully demand their rightful pay. And let us support these scholars to make a learned society where the politicians won’t stand a chance to cheat innocent citizens and nourish their families and the learned will be granted the righteous place in the society.
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