Only 8% of students pursue science subjects -Minister
COLOMBO: Only a 8 per cent of students pursue science
subjects. This had caused a wide disparity between educational needs and
results, said Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister
Dr. Sarath Amunugama.
He was speaking at the convocation of the Indian Chartered Financial
Analysis Institute’s (ICFAI University) Sri Lanka Branch at the BMICH
recently. Presently the education system had suffered a setback
primarily because vast majority of students have been drawn towards the
Arts field, he said.
Education is a special topic of discussion today. Everyone is paying
attention and looking eagerly as to how they could enter the
universities for higher education or admit children to schools for
education. Dr. Amunugama said in Sri Lanka only 14 per cent of students
sitting the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination are qualified to the
universities.
He said Sri Lanka today boasted about the highest rate of literacy in
Asia because every Government since independence had given prominence to
social welfare. Every Government had rendered dedicated service in the
sphere of education.
Since doors of universities in Sri Lanka are opened to a very limited
number of children, middle class parents have been forced to incurr a
heavy expenditure in providing higher education abroad for their
children.
This spending on higher education had become a big burden on most
parents.
At a time when there is difficulty in setting up private universities
it is heartening to note that ICFAI had been able to set up a branch
institute here.
The ICFAI and other private universities played an important role in
the education field in Sri Lanka. Dr. Amunugama said economic
development had a great impact on education. IT degrees offered by the
Colombo and Moratuwa Universities and the Malabe IT University were very
valuable degrees are of a very high standard.
ICFAI University Chancellor Prof. Subash Sarnikar delivered the
convocation lecture. K.A. Suresh delivered the welcome address. |
