Compulsory leadership training for undergraduates
Compulsory leadership training for undergraduates in
Proponents
It has been claimed by the Government that this program has been launched to increase employability of graduates thus reducing the high graduate unemployment in state universities. 10,000 students have been earmarked for the first group of training starting May 22, 2011, and a second group of 12,000 is set to follow on June 22 in order to cover the 2011-2012 state university undergraduate intake.
Critics
This move has drown criticisms from the opposition, student groups and human rights groups as the nature of compulsory military type training seen in conscription.[2] Inter University Students' Federation filed a fundamental right's petition to the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka asking for an injunction order against the programme. Feedback received from the students, parents and university academics has been considered in preparing this year's program.[5] The court rejected the petition.[3][6]
Controversy
One of the centers used in the program has been the center of controversy due to trainee deaths. The center which is a cadet training camp in Rantembe has been reported as having insufficient medical services with the absence of a doctor and also being seven kilometers away from the closest hospital. Two students have died at the camp in 2008 and 2011 during the leadership program for undergraduates, while a principal who was part of a similar leadership training program died in 2013.[7]
See also
- Education in Sri Lanka
- Ragging in Sri Lanka
- conscription
- Compulsory Military Training in New Zealand
References
- ^ Leadership training for university undergrads at 28 centres
- ^ a b University students get marching orders for leadership programme
- ^ a b Sri Lanka University News
- ^ Leadership training for university entrants begins on Monday Archived 2011-05-26 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Consider postponement of leadership training - SC
- ^ Petitions against Uni Leadership Programme rejected
- ^ "No doctor in Rantembe cadet camp despite three deaths- Sri Lanka teacher trade union".