Disciplines don’t make one unemployable, country’s bankrupt system does: Dr Mahim Mendis

Disparity in educational standards among urban, suburban, rural schools makes for privileged and underprivileged schoolchildren

Open University of Sri Lanka’s (OUSL) Senior Lecturer in Mass Communication, and Federation of University Teachers’ Association’s (FUTA) former Media Spokesman Dr Mahim Mendis has dismissed claims that universities were producing graduates who are not employable.

“It is not the disciplines that makes anyone unemployable. It is the system that is bankrupt in our country.” Dr Mendis said in an interview with Education Times.

Dr Mendis who was also President of the Open University Teachers Association (OUTA) on two occasions, was also the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the OUSL.

Excerpts of the interview;

These are separate issues. Academics do not subscribe to one ideological position to oppose private higher education. However, with our different ideological backgrounds, we unite in demanding that governments respect United Nations benchmarks on education, such as 6% of the GDP on education.

On private sector education, we wish to see a regulatory framework and benchmarks on quality assurance and accreditation. All academics do not oppose private higher education institutions, but believe in quality of what is imparted.

Because the State cannot wash its hands off education from primary to tertiary levels, and youth shouldn’t be burdened without human and physical infrastructure for education. We need a firm assurance from all political parties that they respect this UNESCO benchmark for the benefit the people.

That alone demonstrates their inability to be rational. It is not the disciplines that make any one unemployable. It is the system that is bankrupt in our country. It is not a secret that graduates produced by Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences become leaders almost globally. Have you heard of people from top Colombo schools becoming unemployable by getting Arts degrees?

In Sri Lanka too, leaders who reached eminence over the years, studied subjects such as Literature, Philosophy, Politics, Sociology, Economics, Classics etc. So, unless one is ignorant, one would not look down on Arts and Social Sciences. Policymakers should identify the type of youth, more than graduates, have difficulties.

What is wrong is the system, with its failure to ensure equality and equity among schools. Students from underprivileged areas lack even basic soft skills, as they were not taught them. Governments since independence should take the blame, not the poor students who have no place to go.

No civilised country should have privileged and underprivileged schools. All should have the same facilities. Why should there be disparity between educational standards.

Leaders should ensure that children all over are beneficiaries of the model of education that they grant their own children. They should learn from Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore, who gave the same quality of education to all.

Today, Singapore is globally competitive, and the National University of Singapore is among the first 25 global universities with Harvard, USA at the top. This is due to the strong foundation laid by schools.

Probably it is the lack of foresight and intelligence, as once admitted by late President J.R. Jayawardene, in the context of the Indo-Lanka Peace Accord. There is a problem of national priorities and absence of public policy too.

Also, because education is given least possible status. In such a context, Sri Lanka is notorious for rampant lawlessness. No one says that Sri Lankan politicians are an example to the people. As I see it, politicians do not expect the people to be educated, as an educated citizenry will never tolerate irresponsible politicians.

The very high literacy level of 99% they boast of is only at primary education level. One cannot achieve tangible results in national development with that type of education.

The implications are frightening. From the standpoint of the professional community, it is useless talking with Sri Lankan politicians. They believe that the best thing is to leave Sri Lankans in search of greener pastures in affluent countries. Hence we only have about 25%-30% PhDs among the academic community.

A: The government should think about meaningful private and public partnerships, with the State retaining ownership. Without such a system, working conditions of academics, as well as physical infrastructure cannot be improved radically. Also, without a proper regulatory framework, private institutions would continue to exploit academics.