National People's Power (NPP) MP Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has said the government was without a cohesive plan to prevent brain drain and that the educated are further dejected by its attitude towards them.
Migration by academics also in turn deny children the opportunity to have a higher education, although the government seemed not to mind even if state universities are closed down, she has told ‘Silumina’ newspaper.
University teachers are leaving the country not merely because of economic reasons, but because they know there is no future for the country faced with crises in all fronts and going downhill to uncertainty.
Steps to recruit lecturers
Meanwhile, UGC chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunga said the shortage of university teachers is now being addressed.
There are only 6,548 lecturers serving at state universities, although the requirement is 12,992, he said.
The cabinet has approved two proposals to recruit up to 750 lecturers in place of those who had either retired, died or migrated between 2022 and June 30 2023.
Also, special permission has been sought through the education minister to fill 15 per cent of these vacancies, said Prof. Amaratunga.
