Annual Report 2008 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

2. Fiscal Developments - 2008
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Box 2.4
Investing in Knowledge Based Education Contd.
Challenges Ahead
• Promotion of equitable access to quality education
with required infrastructure facilities, teaching tools,
equipment and with better qualified teachers in
underserved areas.
• Development of motivation, skills and commitment of
teachers ensuring delivery of quality education equally
in all schools.
• Ensuring of good governance and management in the
delivery of education at the provincial level.
• Rehabilitation and reconstruction of education and
infrastructure of Eastern and Northern provinces to
address education needs of the children affected by
terrorists’ activities.
However, at present, only around 16 percent of the students
who qualified for university admissions are given placements
in government universities.
Higher Education
The Government investment on higher education covers
17 Universities, 05 Postgraduate Institutions and 02
Bhikku Universities. The financial assistance provided for
Universities and Higher Education Institutions has been
significantly increased by 133 percent from 2005 to 2008.
The total capital investment on higher education amounted
to Rs 8,707 million in 2008 of which 18 percent comprised of
foreign aid.
Expanding Opportunities for Higher Education
The University Grants Commission has recognized 7 new
institutions under section 25A of the Universities Act No. 16
of 1978 as degree awarding institutions. These institutions
have been approved in order to increase the higher
education opportunities for A/L qualified students who are
not selected to enter in to government universities in the
country. Through this initiative, it is expected to minimize
the number of students going abroad for higher education.
In addition, the Ministry of Higher Education has awarded
138 scholarships to Sri Lankan students for undergraduate
studies in foreign universities, in addition to awarding of
scholarships for post graduate education in China, India,
Russia, Japan, New Zealand and United Kingdom.
With the increased funds provided to universities, the
University Grants Commission took measures to increase
the student intake from 19,000 in 2007 to 20,369 in 2008.
Enhanced Facilities for Distance Education
Distance Education Modernization Project (DEMP) was
implemented to modernize the Open University in order
to provide online facilities to follow courses in distance
mode. The objective of this project is to increase the student
enrolment including students from rural areas by establishing
40 National Online Distance Education Service (NODES)
and Access Centres (NACs) to follow online courses.
Ministry of Finance and Planning Sri Lanka
Annual Report 2008