Hon. Minister of Education Professor G.L. Pieris had several meetings separately with the officers of University Grants Commission, the Ministry of Higher Education, Vice-Chancellors of the Universities and the Presidents of National Colleges of Education.
The matters relating to reopening of universities that were closed in the face of Covid 19 and how to maintain their normal activities properly were discussed at the meeting held with the University Grants Commission.
And also, a special attention was drawn towards the ragging which is considered as a major issue by the parents and the common people at the meeting held with the Vice-Chancellors of the Universities. Regarding this matter of ragging, the minister emphasized the importance of following strong policies against it. In addition to that, the preparation of syllabuses to suite the modern world, conducting language training programs for empowering the occupational expectations, providing systematic approaches for vocational guidance and about the criteria that should be considered when the outside people are appointed to the university management boards and the councils were also discussed at this meeting.
When the discussions were held with the Presidents of National Colleges of Education, the minister expressed his ideas raising the importance of holding view seeking sessions covering the entire country with the parents, teachers, students, past pupils associations and other relevant sections about the changes to be done into the syllabuses and learning methodologies that is an essential matter at present. The State Minister of Dhamma Schools, Education of Buddhist Priests, Pirivenas and Buddhist Universities Hon. Vijitha Berugoda, several members of the University Grants Commission including Senior Professor Sampath Amarathunga, Vice Chancellors and the Presidents of National Colleges of Education also participated in these discussions.
