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University non-academic staff have launched a 48-hour token strike today and tomorrow (23) which will take place in all universities across the island. Non-academic staff had resorted to various trade union action in the recent past based on several demands including pay hikes. Authorities had then promised to resolve the issue, however so far no action has been taken, Treasurer of the Inter University Employees’ Trade Union Federation Edward Malwattage said. He warned that if relevant authorities fail to address the issues this time, they would have no option but to take serious trade union action.

The results of the G.C.E Ordinary Level exams held in December 2011 will be released next week, the Examinations Department said today. Speaking to Ada Derana the Examinations Commissioner W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara said that result tabulation is currently being finalized.

All lectures for 2nd year students of the Science Faculty at the Kelaniya University have been suspended until further notice.  The decision, taken by the University’s administration, has already been informed to the students, director of the University media unit, Prof. Mapa Thilakaratne said today. Accordingly, the relevant students have been instructed by the administration to vacate university premises and hostels.   (Ada derana)

National level and District level rankings of the 2011 G.C.E Advanced Level examination results, released last night following a long delay, have been temporarily suspended due to a technical error, the Ministry of Higher Education said.  Secretary of the Higher Education Ministry Sunil Jayantha Navarathna stated that the decision was taken as a result of a technical error which had occurred during the calculation process of the merits and affirmed that the rankings will be re-released after the problem is resolved.  He however added that there will be no change in the ‘Z-scores’ or the A/L results in general as they are correct. (Ada Derana)

A group of students of the Karapitiya Medical Faculty today (Oct. 15) staged ‘satyagraha’ against the increase of student hostel fees. The monthly hostel fee, which had been limited to Rs.50 thus far, has been increased to Rs.400, the student union of the Medical Faculty said. It has been reported that Medical Faculty students have neglected paying hostel fees in protest to the fees hike. The students meanwhile accuse that authorities are preparing to suspend examination results claiming that students are occupying hostels by force, without paying fees.

Department of Examination informs that grade 5 scholarship examination results will be reconsidered only if the school principal and the teacher in charge certifies that there has been an astonishing difference in the exam results of a student. An appeal can be made through the principal for re-correction of results for such students only while any other appeal will not be considered, the examinations department notified. Appeals for re-correction of scholarship examination results can be forwarded until October 1.

Authorities in UK have agreed to provide other colleges to the Sri Lankan students who are stranded in London due to the sudden closure of several colleges. The agreement was reached during discussion between representatives of the Sri Lanka High Commission in UK and officials of the University Grants Committee in the United Kingdom, the External Affairs Ministry stated. Nearly 80 Sri Lankan students who were studying in UK were left stranded after three (3) universities in the country abruptly shut down, due to various irregularities. The Sri Lanka High Commission intervened in the issue, subsequent to being informed regarding the matter by several of the effected students, and special discussion were held with the University Grants Committee in UK. Afterwards they had agreed to provide the students in question with other colleges to in order to continue their higher educational, the Ministry said adding that attention had been extensively towards the students’ course fees and visa...

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to postpone until next year implementing the circular issued on external degree courses. Therefore universities have been instructed to register candidates for external degrees within this year as well, the UGC said.  It is said that certain universities have already commenced registration of external degree candidates and renewal of registrations. The UGC states that steps will be taken to provide Rs.25 million to each of the 11 universities conducting external degree courses within the year and to develop these courses with the allocated funds.

A tense situation has broken out at the Jayawardenapura University after a group of students surrounded an administrative building. The students have reportedly surrounded Vice Chancellor N.L.A. Karunaratna ’ s office building following an announcement that he will not be issuing Mahapola scholarships.

The Korean language test admissions will be issued to all applicants until August 11 from 29 centers island-wide while all applicant do not need to come to Colombo, the Secretary of the Foreign Employment Bureau stated.

A/L students will only be allowed to use blue and black pens and black pencils for the upcoming examination. Use of red, purple, green pens and highlighters prohibited.

University Grants Commission (UGC) says more attention will be paid towards the quality of external courses in universities from next year. Related conditions have already been notified to every university for this purpose, the UGC said. UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake stated that in the future external courses of all universities in the country have to be conducted according to these conditions. He pointed out that the new system is being introduced intended on increasing the standard of external degrees provided by universities. “Thereby presenting external degrees which are equal in standard to degrees obtained by internal university students.”

The university department heads, who handed in their resignations, have to be given letters of appointment again, says the Federation of University Teacher’s Association (FUTA). University dons had previously resigned from voluntary positions demanding the implementation of the proposed salary hike. Administrative affairs in universities are at risk if the relevant appointment letters are not provided, FUTA media spokesman Mahim Mendis warned. He said that this decision had been made during the Association’s executive committee meeting held yesterday (July 30).

The Ministry of Education is attempting to amend the Teaching Service Act without consulting the matter with teachers’ trade unions, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) accused. Its General Secretary, Joseph Stalin states that bringing forth such amendments without proper discussion is incorrect. He claimed that there is an attempt to decrease the approved number of teachers to 197,279, from the current 213,694 teachers employed, through this amendment. The Ministry is trying to cut down on costs by reducing the number of employed teachers in this manner, he said speaking to Media. These conspiratorial conducts must be stopped immediately, if not action will be taken against this, Mr. Stalin demanded.

Two students from the University of Jaffna have been arrested today (May 09) over suspicion of inflicting damage on university property, Jaffna Police stated. Police reported that a clash had occurred within the university premises on Saturday while arrangements were being made for a function to receive the new intake of students. The incident had resulted in the damage of several university properties while those involved had fled upon the arrival of police officers. However, the vehicles in the vicinity of the incident were taken into police custody and officers were stationed within the university which led to the identification of two suspects, police revealed. The apprehended students are scheduled to be presented before the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (10).

t will not be made compulsory for government schools to extend their work hours until 3 p.m. Secretary to the President, Lalith Weeratunga stated quelling several rumours that the government was looking to extend school hours. He further explained that it was the President’s intention to get the opinions of school teachers, students, parents and other relevant parties before implementing such a law. Weeratunga added that no such regulation will be implemented if it isn’t favourable to all the parties involved.

All government schools in the Southern Province will be closed on Friday (09) in view of the elections, the Education Ministry said today.

Cabinet approved a Memorandum submitted by the Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha to implement the percentages as indicated below for admission of children to Grade One. 1.1: For proximity of the residence - 50% 1.2 : Other qualifications – 1.2.1: For past pupils - 25% 1.2.2: For brothers/sisters - 15% 1.2.3: Children of officers in Public Service the following will be considered: * Officers in Public Service who have transfers and children of parents engaged in the field of education * Children of Public Officers serving in difficult districts * Children of employees in Government Institutions returning from abroad.               The number of students admitted for a class should be 35. In addition, the children of the parents engaged in operational services should be reserved at the rate of seven students per class and the maximum number of students in a class should not exceed 42. (The admission of children if parents engaged in Operational services will be valid only for ...

More than 200 students haven't got even a single mark at the Grade 5 Scholarship Exams 2008, Commissioner General of Examination Anura Edirisinghe said today.