FUTA strike jeopardises GCE A/L 2012 exams
The ongoing strike by the universities’ academic staff is set to adversely affect the marking of the A/L answer scripts, warned Federation of University Teachers Association (FUTA) President Dr. Nirmal Devasiri yesterday.
“The strike will continue till the demands of the university academic staff are met, and we have decided to refrain from involving in any A/L related issues during these days,” said Dr. Devasiri.
The universities’ academic staff went on strike on July 4, after failing to receive a positive response for their demands including a salary increase.
Two rounds of talks have been held with Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. But no solution has been reached yet.
Among the demands are higher salaries, more investment in Sri Lanka’s education system, a change in the State’s attitude and approach towards the education system, and an end to negative political interference.
Meanwhile, not just the A/L students, but more so, the stu- dents within the universities are adversely affected by the present situation.
“We are in the fourth year of our degree and this is the time for our first semester exams which weren’t properly conducted because of the ongoing strike,” said a Horana Sripali campus undergraduate.
“We sat for a couple of papers, and when we came the next day they didn’t let us continue with the exam because of the strike. We spent night and day studying for exams they never held. Now we’ve forgotten what we studied, and would have to start all over again,” he said.
The undergraduates staying in hostels were the worst affected, as they are sometimes without water or electricity due to breakdowns, with nobody to attend to them, he said.
“I come all the way from Kalutara to Colombo, and there are students coming from even further away, only to discover that the universities are closed and return home. The undergrads are clueless about the current status of the strike and are in limbo,” said Chamathi Weerakoon*, a 1st year undergrad of the Arts faculty at Colombo University. “We have yet to have our 1st semester exams, “she said.Inter University Students Union President, Sanjeewa Bandara stated that the Union supports the FUTA strike. The students are affected by this strike. Even last year, there was a 75day strike by the FUTA. This will prolong a three-year degree for up to four years. Undergraduates in this country are severely affected by this, and the government should look into these issues and find solutions,” he said.
Colombo University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hirumburagama stated that the career, reputation and advancement of an academic staff member are affected by these proceedings.
“I feel sad for the undergraduates because their education is seriously affected by this strike, and they would have a negative image of the university system,” she said.
The FUTA strike followed shortly after the end of the universities’ non-academic staff strike which took place from June 6 - June 26. (Chamathi Weerakoon* name
changed by request.)