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Survival of the fittest? The importance of context-sensitivity in education reform

Hasini Lecamwasam My ongoing fieldwork on agrarian politics in Sri Lanka is teaching me many things that are not directly related to, but heavily condition what happens in agriculture. I’m learning how the dynamics of everyday domestic life impact agrarian decisions: whether or not the credit taken for agriculture purposes is always actually spent on […]

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

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

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

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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Extra-curricular activities: Are they losing their purpose?

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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From Opposition to alternative? – Some thoughts on the potential and the trajectory of Aragalaya

By Sasindu Patabendige Aragalaya which is/can be (mis)translated to English as ‘struggle’ or ‘revolt’ is getting suppressed and appropriated in multiple ways at the time of writing this piece, ironically (perhaps), with the sanction of the de facto president who claims to be ‘liberal’ and ‘democratic’. The attempt of this column is to present some

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Education and healthcare in crisis: Why IMF is not the solution

The rally of July 9th and the events that followed are symbolic of the radical changes in governance demanded by the people of this country. We want to be informed and consulted, an end to the abuse of power, fair distribution of the country’s resources and a democratic and inclusive society. The ruling elite, for whom the current system works, are not invested in the seismic shifts that are needed to make this happen.

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