The Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) has demanded that the government immediately withdraws the plan to sell to foreign students opportunities of thousands of children in this country to study in universities.
Speaking at an agitation held opposite fort Railway Station yesterday (6th) the convener of the IUSF Sanjeewa Bandara said a continuous agitation would be carried out with the participation of students who lose these opportunities, their parents and university students if the government does not withdraw the arbitrary decision to allocate more opportunities to foreign students.
Speaking further Mr. Bandara said, “The government is planning to sell the degree. It has been already planned to sell the medical degree for Rs.7.5 million, engineering degree for Rs.4.5 million, science degree for Rs.3.5 million, management degree for Rs.1.4 million and the arts degree for Rs.1.3 million. As an initial step it has been planned to enroll 1000 foreign students to sell them the degree.
The government has planned to sell the degree this way to foreign students despite more than 100,000 local students in this country who have passed the A/L examination have been denied opportunities to study in universities. Every year about 120000 students get qualified to enter universities but only about 20,000 are enrolled. Among them are students who have gained ‘A’ passes and are unable to enter universities due to want of a small fragment of a mark. The government that states there is no room in universities to give opportunities to these students has decided to enroll 1000 foreign students for money.
The attempt by the government to deny opportunities for students to study in universities merely to conceal its bankruptcy should be halted.
The government should immediately withdraw this arbitrary decision. If not a continuous agitation would be carried out with the participation of students who lose these opportunities, their parents and university students,” said the convener of the IUSF.