Govt Spending on education as a % of GDP is a standard and widely accepted measure used in the development economics literature to reflect a govt’s commitment to education (similarly health). One of the serious issues that the current trade union action has shown is that this measure has decreased further even _after_ the end of the war (i.e. post 2009).

Agree. GDP not a proper benchmark to compare the standard of education in this country. A deeper malaise is the politicisation of the faculty and the entire university system.

The performance of a university should be judged by other KPI’s. For instance the University of Essex has a vision and mission.

Values

As a University we value the following: the highest academic and professional standards, social, cultural and economic obligation, environmental sustainability, diversity, equality of opportunity, integrity and leadership. We value sound financial management as a means of securing our academic activity and taking control of our own destiny. At Essex, research, teaching and knowledge transfer enjoy parity of esteem.

Purpose and mission

The purpose of the University is to extend and deepen the fund of human knowledge and pass the benefits on to others.

Our mission is to be a globally competitive, research-intensive, student-focussed university that takes seriously its economic, social and cultural responsibilities to the Eastern region, the UK and the world.

Question – Do our Universities have any vision or mission? Our politicians and dons are partly to blame.

Strategy

Our strategy from 2009-10 to 2013-14 is built upon a robust set of key performance indicators. This strategic plan points the way to an ambitious programme of investment designed to establish Essex as a university with global impact and an international reputation that is unparalleled for a university of our size, underpinned by our strong regional base.
We will grow through partnership (regional and international) and through developing our multi-campus footprint
We will invest prudently, with a focus on student experience and on enhancing our position as a top-ten university for research quality
We will focus a proportion of our resource on a small number of collaborative research projects that will lever external funding to address major global challenges facing humanity
We will maintain our commitment to widening participation and will continue to focus on the recruitment of high quality students both at home and internationally

Given the diversity and strength of our income base, alongside our effective mechanisms for cost management, the University of Essex will remain financially resilient even if we face future funding constraints.

Do our Universities have any strategy? It cant happen because of the so called free education system we are dependent on handouts from the Govt. Neither do we allow the system to be privatised and allow private Universities because our position will be threatened. Instead we adopt a ‘Dog in the Manger’ attitude and prevent others from higher learning in Sri Lanka. There is no ‘free education’ just as there is no free lunch. Education is not the monopoly of the 20,000 who manage to enter our public university system. It has to be open to all citizens of this country.

So it would be helpful if the dons put their brains together and come up with a system to make public universities in Sri Lanka finacially viable and of world class rather than parading on the streets and demanding their pound of flesh.

So, % of GDP or Total Govt. expenditure for education in a volatile country like Sri Lanka just raising its head from ashes of destructive war & comparison with those % of other countries won’t give a clearer picture.

To: Don Arachi,
YES. You are quite right. Just throwing in money want do. However, it is the first step.

Granted Sri Lanka needs to find a way to keep it’s top class academics in the country; but perhaps just throwing money at the issue won’t necessarily work. We have thrown money at a ‘budget airline’ and look what has happened.

The best one can do is to find a way to bring the best of the market to work in higher education. Make them independent institutions (accredited by a central body) who can explore different business models (like a portion of the students being paid-for instead of free or students being able to ‘upgrade’ their courses for a fee, or a community college model where the first year is taught remotely or elsewhere by an accredited college.)

Another model is to let the student have the money directly as an education voucher redeemable at any higher education institutions of their choosing. That will create competition. That’s what we need. Just throwing in money wont solve the education problem, it might solve the salary issue, temporarily, until the next time the FUTA thinks of creating a power point presentation.

Maybe the Govt doesnt want people to be too clever or knowledgable. Needs to keep them docile and fool them all the time. Anaesthetise them with a good dose of the Opium of the Masses and Patriotism. That will keep them in check and the politicians can make hay while the sun shines. Masses can manage on Rs 2500 per month while politicians run around in luxury.