{
  "id": 12030637,
  "title": "Dons’ frustration and rulers’ nonchalance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/dons-frustration-and-rulers-nonchalance",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T23:50:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/dons-frustration-and-rulers-nonchalance/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the past several months, the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA) has been holding media briefings to address unresolved issues within the university system. However, the government appears to be indifferent to these concerns. In a recent media appearance, FUTA highlighted the situation wherein all state universities are now left with only about 5,000 teachers, as a large number of academics have left the country, primarily due to economic reasons. This concerning development has only worsened over time.\n\nUniversity teachers, who played a crucial role in the JVP-led NPP's rise to power, are now frustrated as they relentlessly attempt to draw the government's attention to the numerous problems plaguing the university system. The same can be said for state-sector doctors, who have received little support from the government, which seems to disregard the GMOA and the BASL, whose members actively campaigned for the NPP.\n\nThe incumbent government, much like its predecessors, appears more focused on increasing the number of universities in line with a politically motivated agenda rather than adequately resourcing and staffing the existing ones. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to establish 50 new universities across the nation while most state universities face severe resource constraints, with many academics choosing to leave.\n\nCreating a quality university system is not solely about increasing the number of institutions or admitting more students. It requires a combination of capable academics, sufficient resources, institutional autonomy, rigorous standards, and a system of accountability. Furthermore, certain other conditions must be met for a country to develop a vibrant university system that meets international standards. This includes a clear national higher education strategy, adequate funding, strong research capacity, academic freedom, institutional freedom, rigorous and independent quality assurance, and industrial and international links.\n\nThe World Bank's recent assessment of Sri Lanka's higher education sector has revealed issues such as a scarcity of qualified academic staff, inadequate research and innovation output, and passive student learning. FUTA members have criticized the Cabinet's slow approval process for foreign research grants, which leaves universities without sufficient funds for research.\n\nWhile arguments exist for and against government oversight on research grants, the real issue lies in why the government cannot expedite the approval process. Teaching and research are regarded as inseparable functions of a university, and institutions need the freedom to determine curricula, conduct research, appoint staff, and make academic decisions without undue political or bureaucratic interference. UNESCO emphasizes academic freedom and institutional autonomy as crucial factors for universities to fulfill their teaching and research functions.\n\nThe OECD notes that universities have played a pivotal role in the development of the Global North, producing educated professionals and generating knowledge that drives industrialization and technological innovation. It remains to be seen whether Sri Lankan policymakers will heed the warning of university teachers and take urgent action to address the shortage of university teachers, as students may have to wait for several years before starting their academic programs, potentially leaving universities empty.",
  "summary": "Monday 5th October, 2026 The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) has held several media briefings during the past several months to highlight a host of unresolved issues affecting the university system, but the government seems to be unconcerned. Addressing the media, over the weekend, the FUTA raised those problems once again, pointing out that […]",
  "key_points": [
    "FUTA highlights severe teacher shortage in state universities",
    "Government indifferent to teachers' concerns",
    "President aims to create 50 new universities despite resource constraints"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The government's seeming indifference to the plight of university teachers and its focus on expanding the number of universities without adequately resourcing existing ones may undermine the quality of Sri Lanka's higher education sector.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}