New Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardana said that more and more educational institutions with vocational training must be created for the students who cannot be admitted to the university education. The minister mentioned this when he met the officers of university grants commission yesterday afternoon (19) after receiving the duties of the higher education sector.
The minister emphasized at this occasion the current necessity of designing the university education in a way that it can cater to the demand for employments in this country. Since the President has pointed out that the universities in the eastern province are not functioning properly, the minister advised at this occasion to take necessary actions for this purpose. While expressing his ideas at this occasion the chairperson of the university grants commission Professor Sampath Amarathunga pointed out that the universities in Sri Lanka are already conducting the educational activities properly. He also pointed out that in addition to the 16 universities maintained under the university grants commission, a university for nurses and a sports university are going to be established and the preliminary activities of these institutions have already been finished. The chairperson also explained at this occasion that there are problems in the eastern universities and instead of 3 years for a general degree it takes 8 years and also for a special degree it takes 10 years. The steps have been taken to rectify this situation and to function the eastern universities properly, he further explained.
The State Minister Susil Premajayantha, Member of Parliament Yadammini Gunawardana and the Secretary of the Ministry of Education Professor Kapila Perera had also joined in this occasion.
