Intake to KDU delayed due to underqualified SAITM students - UGC

There are at least 54 SAITM students without basic qualifications required to continue their education in medicine, UGC sources said.

The sources said the 54 students have not obtained 3 simple passes to the G.C.E. A/level exam.

Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) Special Provisions) Bill to absorb SAITM students to KDU was passed with amendments in Parliament without a vote in June 20.

In May, Cabinet approval was granted for 980 SAITM students to be absorbed by the KDU however, the UGC had failed to absorb the students to KDU until now due to irregularities of the registration the student at the SAITM institute.

The source said the President and the Defence Secretary had questioned UGC Chairman Prof. Mohan de Silva of the delays in the absorbing process.

“The UGC had come to a difficult situation due to under-qualified SAITM students as they would not be absorbed into the KDU. Therefore absorbing process will be further delayed until it decides what could be done to those students,” he added.

According to the KDU Act, the minimum standard to enroll the KDU is three simple passes from the G.C.E. A/ Level. However, efforts made to contact UGC Chairman over the matter by the Daily Mirror proved futile.

When contacted SAITM Medical Faculty Parents Forum’s Convener Gemunu Wijeratne said that he was not aware of students who do not have the required qualification, however, said that not a single student who does not meet the standards, should be absorbed to KDU.

“KDU should not be another SAITM,” he added.