Worldwide Nepalese Students' Organisation |
Sri
Lanka - Education system
INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS
Types of higher education
institutions:
University
Institute of Higher
Education
Open University
School leaving and higher education
credentials:
Sri Lankan General
Certificate of Education Advanced Level
Diploma/Certificate
Trained Teacher's
Certificate (Primary School)
Trained Teacher's
Certificate (Secondary School)
Higher National
Diploma
Bachelor Degree
Postgraduate Diploma
Master's Degree
Doctorate
STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pre-higher
education:
Duration
of compulsory education:
Age of
entry: 5
Age of
exit: 14
Structure of school system:
Primary
Type of
school providing this education: Primary School
Length
of program in years: 5
Age level from: 5 to: 10
Junior Secondary
Type of
school providing this education: Junior Secondary School
Length
of program in years: 3
Age level from: 11 to: 13
Senior Secondary
Type of
school providing this education: Senior Secondary School
Length
of program in years: 3
Age
level from: 14 to: 16
Certificate/diploma awarded: Sri Lankan GCE
O-Levels
Pre-university
Type of
school providing this education: Collegiate Course
Length
of program in years: 2
Age
level from: 17 to: 18
Certificate/diploma
awarded: Sri Lankan GCE A-Levels
School
education:
Secondary education comprises
junior secondary, senior secondary and collegiate (pre-university) education.
Junior secondary education lasts for three years and is compulsory up to the
school-leaving age of 14. Senior secondary education lasts for three years. At
the end of year XI pupils sit for the Sri Lankan GCE O-levels. They must pass
in six subjects including mathematics and mother tongue Sinhalese or Tamil. The
collegiate course lasts for two years. At the end of year XIII pupils sit for
the Sri Lankan GCE A-level examination. As from the year 2000, students can
present three subjects for the GCE A level. The minimum admission requirement
is a pass in all three approved subjects with an aggregate not less than 135
points and a mark of not less than 30% for the Common General Paper. However, there are no special admission
criteria for enrolment in courses conducted by the Open University of Sri
Lanka.
Higher
education:
Higher education is provided by
universities, specialized institutions, such as technical colleges and
affiliated technical units, and private institutions. There are also institutes
of higher education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. They are
attached to the universities. The university authorities are a Council, a
Senate and Faculty Boards. The University Grants Commission provides funds to
universities and advises the universities and higher education institutes on
administrative and academic matters. Specialized institutions of higher
education provide technical and professional education. Higher education
institutions are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education
and Information Technology Development.
Main
laws/decrees governing higher education:
Decree: Universities Act No.
16 of 1978 amended by Act No. 1 of 1995.
Concerns:
universities
Academic
year:
Classes
from: Oct to: Sep
Languages
of instruction: English, Singhalese, Tamil
Stages
of studies:
Post-secondary studies (technical/vocational
type):
Non-university
level:
Higher technical
studies are offered in polytechnical institutes and technical colleges and
affiliated technical units. They offer courses in Engineering, Commerce,
Business and Crafts. Courses last between one and four years and lead to a
Diploma or a Certificate. A Higher National Diploma is conferred following
courses that last for four years at postsecondary level.
University level studies:
University
level first stage: Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor's Degree:
Certificates and Diplomas are conferred after one
to two years. Students must usually sit for a number of written papers and
submit an essay, a term paper or a dissertation on an approved subject. A
Bachelor's Degree is conferred after three years as a General Degree or as a
Special Degree after four years of study.
General Degree students read three subjects and sit for three annual
examinations. Students reading for the Special Degree specialize in the study
of one subject. A Degree in Medicine is awarded after 5 years of study with an
additional year of internship which is compulsory. The Bachelor of Ayurvedic
Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and the Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery
(BUMS) are conferred after six years, with one year's internship prior to
certification.
University
level second stage: Master's Degree, M.Phil, Postgraduate Diploma:
A Master's Degree is obtained after two years of
further study beyond the Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degrees usually comprise a
dissertation in addition to theory papers. The M.Phil course normally consists in research. Postgraduate Diplomas
generally require one year of study following upon the Bachelor degree.
University
level third stage: Doctorate:
A Doctorate is
usually conferred after two to three years of research beyond the Master's
Degree and submission of a thesis.
Teacher education:
Training
of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers
Primary school teachers are trained in three years
(two years' course work and one year's practical in-service training) at a teacher
training college. They must hold GCE A levels to be admitted. At the end of the
course, they are awarded the Trained Teacher's Certificate.
Training
of secondary school teachers
Secondary school teachers are trained in three
years (two years' course work and one year's practical in-service training) in
a teacher training college. They must hold GCE A levels. They specialize in the
subject to be taught at secondary level and are awarded the Trained Teacher's
Certificate at the end of the course.
Training
of higher education teachers
Entry to the
profession is generally made at the assistant lecturer level on the basis of a
good first degree. Confirmation is dependent on the teacher obtaining an
approved postgraduate qualification in the relevant discipline. All teachers
have a probationary period of three years.
Non-traditional studies:
Distance
higher education
Distance higher education is offered at the Open
University of Sri Lanka, which provides first and postgraduate degrees, as well
as Certificates and Diplomas. The Open University has Faculties of Humanities
and Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Engineering Technology. It does not
have formal entrance requirements.
Other
forms of non-formal higher education
Non-formal higher
education consists in an extensive six-month programme organized by the
Ministry and conducted at school centres. Adult literacy classes are conducted
by adult education officers in various fields. The National Apprenticeship
Board conducts courses in technical and commercial fields.
NATIONAL BODIES
Administration
& co-ordination:
Responsible
authorities:
Ministry of
Education
Minister: Susan Premajayantha
Secretary: Tara De Mel
'Isurupaya'
Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte
Battaramulla
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94(1) 865-141
Fax: +94(1) 865-162
WWW: http://www.lk/national/ministry/education.html
Ministry of Higher
Education and Information Technology Development
Minister: Indika Gunawardena
Secretary: R.P. Gunawardena
No 18,
Ward Place
Colombo 07
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94(1) 685-139 +94(1) 691-378
Fax: +94(1) 684-485
Committee of
Vice-Chancellors and Directors (CVCD)
Chairman: Kapugamage Tillekeratne
Executive Secretary: Nissanka
Warakaulle
University
of Kelaniya, Dalugama
Kelaniya
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94(1) 914-474
Fax: +94(1) 911-485
EMail: [email protected]
University Grants
Commission
Chairman: B.R.R.N. Mendis
Secretary: C.S. Karunaratne
International relations: P.M.N.
Bandara
20 Ward
Place
Colombo
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94(1) 695-301
Fax: +94(1) 688-045
EMail: [email protected]
WWW: http://www.ugc.ac.lk
Role of governing
body: Plans
and coordinates higher education, allocates funds to HEIs, maintains academic
standards, regulates the administration of HEIs and admissions of students to
undergraduate programmes.
ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION
Admission
to non university higher education studies
Name of
secondary school credential required: Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education
Advanced Level
Admission
to university-level studies
Name of
secondary school credential required: Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education
Advanced Level
Minimum
score/requirement: As from the year 2000, passes in all three subjects on one and the same
occasion with a minimum aggregate of not less than 135 points and a mark of not less than 30% for the Common General
Paper.
Foreign
students admission
Admission
requirements: Foreign students should hold the General Certificate of Education 'A'
level or its equivalent.
Entry
regulations: They should have visas and sufficient financial resources in foreign
currencies.
Language
requirements: They should have an adequate knowledge of English. An intensive course in
English is provided by the University of Sri Lanka. Preparatory courses are
available in the case of courses in Oriental languages.
Recognition
of studies & qualifications:
Studies
pursued in foreign countries (bodies dealing with recognition of foreign
credentials):
University Grants
Commission
20 Ward Place
Colombo
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94(1) 695-301
Fax: +94(1) 688-045
EMail: [email protected]
WWW: http://www.ugc.ac.lk
Deals
with credential recognition for entry to: University
Special
provisions for recognition:
For
access to advanced studies and research: University concerned
For the
exercise of a profession: Appropriate professional body
Multilateral
agreements concerning recognition of foreign studies
Name of
agreement: Convention On the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees in Higher
Education in Asia and the Pacific
Year of
signature: 1983
References
to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies
Title: Handbook on
Diplomas, Degrees and other Certificates in Higher Education in Asia and the
Pacific
Publisher:
UNESCO
PROAP
Year of publication: 1998
Title: Study Abroad 2000-2001
Publisher:
UNESCO/IBE
Year of publication: 1999
Title: Universities Year
Book
Publisher:
University
Grants Commission
Year of
publication: 2000
STUDENT LIFE
Health/social
provisions
Social
security for home students: Yes
Foreign
student social security provisions: All internal students (local and foreign) are
provided with free medical facilities.
Special
student travel fares:
By road:
Yes
By rail:
Yes
Available
to foreign students: Yes
Student
expenses and financial aid
Student
costs:
Home
students tuition fees: Minimum: 0 (Sri Lanka Rupee)
Maximum:
35000
(Sri Lanka Rupee)
Type of
financial aid available:
Scholarships/grants/fellowships:
Higher
vocational/technical studies:
Home: Yes
First
Degree studies:
Home: Yes
Advanced/doctoral
studies:
Home: Yes
GRADING SYSTEM
Usual
grading system in secondary school
Full
Description: 0%-100%; A,B,C,S,F. 75-100% (A) distinction; 65-74% (B) very good pass;
55-64% (C) credit; 40-54% (S) ordinary pass; 0-39% (F) fail.
Highest
on scale: 100% A
Pass/fail
level: 40-54%
S
Lowest
on scale: 0% F
Main
grading system used by higher education institutions
Full
Description: A to E: A, 70% and above; B, 55-69%; C, 40-54%; D, 30-39%; E, 29% or
below.
Highest
on scale: 100%
Pass/fail
level: 40%
Lowest
on scale: 0%
NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM
Data for
academic year: 2001-2002
Source: University Grants Commission, Colombo, 2001
WNSO Sri Lanka is part of Worldwide Nepalese Students' Organisation (WNSO)