External students intake in proportion to Internal students registered: Grero

Effective from next year, registration of External students for University Degree programmes will be in proportion to the number of internal students registered each year, said State Minister for Education Mohan Lal Grero.

He said the criteria will apply for 16 universities including the Open university, to prevent excessive registration of students to one particular university, and to improve the quality of the Degrees offered.

The decision was taken following discussions with the ‘Bahira Upadi Adyapana Sansadaya’ an External Students' organisation, which earlier met President Maithripala Sirisena seeking his intervention.

However, Mr Grero said some 12,000 students who have applied to Kelaniya University as External students will be registered.

"Our plan is to improve the Open University system, where the students will be able to register for External Degrees and other programmes," Mr Grero said.

External Degree Tutors' Convenor, Sarath Wanninayaka said that, during the discussion with the President, they were also expecting relief for students who are already following classes in 2015.

He said the proportional system will not be effective as universities such as Kelaniya will be able to accommodate only a section of the students.

"We are against quota systems and Universities should be registering students annually, instead of twice a year," he said.

"The plan to expand the Open University system is good, but it may take time to provide relief to the students," he added.

Damith Wickremasekara