Author name: Hasini Lecamwasam

Better the known devil? Some thoughts on the politicisation of education

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Kaushalya Perera The 2024 general elections saw many academics on election stages and a visibly larger number in Parliament. Some of them now hold ministerial positions. Others have been appointed to various other institutions. It is unsurprising then that we academics as a class, have been looking at familiar faces in the news. Is this […]

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Meritocratic education policy: Widening disparities

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Anushka Kahandagamage The recently unveiled education reforms have provoked considerable buzz among scholars, researchers, teachers, parents, and students. Everyone is seeking to contribute, but the government is proceeding without a consultative process or proper document, relying only on an evolving PowerPoint presentation. While the reforms remain obscure, the Education Minister has been issuing statements about

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How much work is too much work? Academic workload and the accountability culture

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Farzana Haniffa On 7th May 2015, the University Grants Commission released a circular, entitled Ethics and Academic Accountability for Academic Staff in the Sri Lankan University system. The circular was prepared by the Quality Assurance Council of the UGC and included a section called Academic Freedom and accountability for mapping of workload and work norms.

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Considerations for Higher Education Reforms

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Submitted by Udari Abeyasinghe, Farzana Haniffa, Ahilan Kadirgamar, Anushka Kahandagama, Ramya Kumar, Shamala Kumar, Hasini Lecamwasam, Kaushalya Perera, Aruni Samarakoon, Sivamohan Sumathy, Mahendran Thiruvarangan Decades of underfunding have left our education system, overall, fractured and in urgent need of rebuilding. The virtual lack of public early childhood education, the years of neglected vocational training, and

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Extra-curricular activities: Are they losing their purpose?

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The school is a place that is not restricted to formal, classroom learning. It is also a place where students explore, develop and hone their interests in sports, literature and arts. Schools pay special attention to these extra-curricular activities as they are essential for recreational purposes. By participating in extra-curricular activities, students cultivate a long-lasting

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Academic freedom: What is it and why is it important?

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Traditionally understood, academic freedom refers to the freedom for academic communities to teach, learn, engage in research and advance scholarly inquiry, without interference. It encompasses the freedom to comment on internal university matters and also on issues of public interest without facing institutional censorship. These freedoms are vital for universities to function as places of learning and scholarship that promote critical dialogue and inquiry. They also allow university communities to hold power to account, whether inside or outside the university, and thus play a vital role in democratising society. In this article, we look at how academic freedom is framed within the state university system and the limits of our understanding and its implications.

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Disenfranchisement, landlessness and education in the Hill Country

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Ahilan Kadirgamar In a recent discussion with Hill Country Tamil teachers in Nuwara Eliya, a trade unionist said the claim that all have equal access to education in Sri Lanka, does not work for the Hill Country, because they, as a community, were denied free education for three decades after independence. Indeed, while we may

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Public funding of higher education: Seeking private funds to fill the gap?

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In December 2024, the Sunday Observer reported that the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Colombo (UoC) had announced plans to reduce the University’s reliance on State funding by increasing foreign student intake and strengthening private sector ties. With 225 international students, and plans to double that number, the VC claimed the University was on track to meet its goal. His remarks echo national strategies and global trends aimed at decoupling public universities from state-funded education.

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