Court approves Draft policy on school admissions Wants speedy reference to Cabinet: Wasantha Ramanayake COLOMBO: The Supreme Court yesterday having approved the draft Policy framework for school admissions for the year 2008 directed the Education Ministry Secretary’s speedy action to present it to the Cabinet of Ministers for their sanction. The Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Ariyaratne Hewage tendered the draft Policy Framework to the court. The Court directed the Secretary to submit to the court any reservations by the Cabinet of Ministers in order to consider whether such reservations could be incorporated in the Policy framework. If there would be none the Secretary should take steps to have it published as a circular to be applicable for 2008. However, the Court observed that the authorities are at liberty to refer the matter to the National Education Committee to formulate a policy framework for the school admissions for the succeeding years.
University education to be broad-based – Minister Warnapala Rohan MATHES COLOMBO: Higher Education Minister Prof. Vishva Warnapala asserted that University education would never ever be privatised but would be broad-based in line with modern trends of education with the formulation of a ‘Development Oriented’ policy for higher education. Addressing journalists at the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department in Narahenpita yesterday, Minister Warnapala stressed that the frequently misinterpreted and misleading slogan of ‘Privatisation of Universities’ was a myth. Nevertheless, he said that we ought to move with the contemporary global trends and ascend from a primarily and absolutely undergraduate education to a postgraduate education system based on quality and relevance. “We have maintained a ‘Social Demand’ model of education since 1944.
Eighteen-year-old Arvind Aradhya from the Indian city of Bangalore has stars in his eyes these days.  He aims to be an astronaut in future and he believes his dreams of reaching the stars are just about to come true. Winning a reality talent hunt show on an Indian television channel has given Arvind an opportunity to study engineering at Warwick University. The Indian television channel, NDTV, conducted the show – called Scholar Hunt, Destination UK. It is a multi-discipline contest which provides opportunities for students in India to win prestigious scholarships to five renowned universities in Britain.
A top university academic this week urged the private sector to stop criticism of universities saying “we do not criticise anyone so lets get together and work for a common goalâ€. The comments were made by Prof Ananda Jayawardane, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa, during a presentation at the Industrial Relations Forum (IRF) of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka on the theme “Importance of University Interaction with the Industrial Relations Forum. He was speaking at the Third IRF, according to a statement of the meeting issued by the FCCISL. IRF which was started very modest with just eight members has presently grown to a large representative body and is also focusing on the SME Sector. Prof Jayawardena said that in training graduates to suit the industry one should understand the duty of the universities.
The Indian government’s recent attempt to introduce sex education for school children has provoked a vigorous debate. In the second of two articles, the BBC’s Jyotsna Singh considers the case against a more open discussion of sex in schools. The decision to introduce sex education in India’s schools, aimed primarily at creating awareness about HIV-Aids, has generated howls of protests from many quarters. Many women’s organisations and religious groups as well as several politicians say exposing children to an open debate on the subject, specially in classrooms, will make them “more permissive”. More than 30% of Indian states have rejected the federal government-supported sex education programme.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Education informed court that Visakha Vidyalaya had organised a raffle at Rs. 200 a ticket and issued ticket books to the current students to be sold at Rs. 4000 each failing which they had to pay Rs. 4000 on their own. Court observed that the past pupils could donate what they wanted to the school but the school could not force the current students to make such donations.
The Supreme Court yesterday having approved the draft Policy framework for school admissions for the year 2008 directed the Education Ministry Secretary’s speedy action to present it to the Cabinet of Ministers for their sanction.The Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Ariyaratne Hewage tendered the draft Policy Framework to the court. The Court directed the Secretary to submit to the court any reservations by the Cabinet of Ministers in order to consider whether such reservations could be incorporated in the Policy framework. If there would be none the Secretary should take steps to have it published as a circular to be applicable for 2008. However, the Court observed that the authorities are at liberty to refer the matter to the National Education Committee to formulate a policy framework for the school admissions for the succeeding years.
CIMA (The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) and ICTA (the Information and Communications Technology Agency of Sri Lanka) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to help foster the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in Sri Lanka. The future wealth creation for most of the developing world is slated to be through knowledge based industries. Business process outsourcing brings with it not only foreign direct investment but also provides significant opportunities for the creation of a large number of skilled jobs. CIMA Sri Lanka is a leading membership body that offers an internationally recognised professional qualification in management accountancy. CIMA currently supplies the BPO industry of Sri Lanka with a pool of qualified professionals, all of whom have the expertise and business acumen to help drive the industry forward.
The reformulated draft of the National Policy on Grade 1 admissions based on the guidelines recommended by the Supreme Court will be presented to the Court for a final order tomorrow with minor revisions. The reformulated draft was presented to courts yesterday. The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justices N.G.
An education system that provides for different mediums in schools should not be allowed to split students, Malaysian Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said. “We have the national schools, Chinese and Tamil schools, religious schools, private and international schools. Like it or not, this is the reality of our education system today. “But we cannot allow our education system of various mediums to divide our children,†he said at the national-level Student Leaders Unity and Integration Programme. Hishammuddin pointed out that because of the country’s history, rural and urban areas and the divide-and-rule policy of the colonialists, the nation had established schools of different mediums.