"The three week leadership training and positive thinking development programme for University entrants will start next Monday," said Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake.
Addressing a press conference at the University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday, he said that about 10,000 students will take part in the programme as the first group.
The residential training will be held in 28 islandwide training camps under the Defence Ministry.
The minister requested all selected students to attend the programme without unnecessary fear. He said he would ensure the safety of the female students and reiterated that it is not equivalent to a military training at any rate. The minister said that the content of this programme is carefully designed by the experts on education and physical and psychological health. He observed that the period of this training programme will be an unforgettable and cherished period for the participants.
moreHe requested the students to come with a parent or an elder to their respective camps on Sunday evening. The programme will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees with the participation of 3,000 students from surrounding camps.
Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr Sunil Navaratne said that the programme is intended to be an orientation programme for the university entrants to acquire universal education. The first group includes 5932 female students and 4,069 male students. The cost of the program is expected to be about Rs 200 million.
The Kotalawala Defence University Vice Chancellor Major General Milinda Peiris said that the 28 camps include 18 army, two naval, two air force and four cadet and police camps islandwide. The timetable consists of nine periods per day starting from five in the morning.
Prominence in the programme is given to leadership skills while conceptual skills, strategic management skills, conflict resolution skills, human skills will also be developed, he said. The students will also be educated on the law of the land and personal hygiene. Group two of this programme will include the rest of 12,000 students and their training is scheduled to commence on June 16.
UGC Chairman Prof Gamini Samaranayake observed that this programme will provide the appropriate solution for ragging. He said that the commission will take stern action to ensure a ragging free university environment by next year.
The Higher Education Ministry has also planned to offer a laptop to each and every university student on a pay later basis when they are employed. WiFi facility will be given for all university premises and dongals will also be given to students. An English test will be held at the beginning of the new academic year. A three month special English and IT programme will be conducted at the beginning of the new academic year for freshers.
Daily News by Disna MUDALIGE
