|
|
TNA: Keep Hoole out of Jaffna campus
Full News Article
piranha
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1233
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 11:45:59 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Magha,
I understand your concern for the loss of Tamil politicians and intellectuals to the Tamil community. They are a great loss indeed, not only to the Tamils but also for Sri Lanka as a country. Many of them contributed greatly to the society and the country.If they had taken a neutral role and not tried to divide the Tamils, many of them probably would be alive today.
The gist of my argument about the murders of the Tamil detracors by the LTTE is that these murders were carried out in order to keep the Tamils united and fight the common enemy as a unified force.How can you win a war with the enemy while you are also fighting these divisive forces within your own community at the same time? Unity among the Tamils was needed at a time when thousands of Tamils were being killed by the enemy in the war - both civilians and fighters. I am sure you know what happened in the second world war in western Europe where Nazi sympathisers in the UK, France and many other countries were imprisoned or executed as traitors.Many of them were intellectuals and held important positions in society.
Universities have always been hotbeds of political activism. Why do we need lecturers to involve in open political warfare? Isn't it bad enough the students disrupting their own education purely for political reasons.If you are a university lecturer or a school teacher you should keep your political views to yourself. Prof Hool is no fool(pardon the pun). He knew what kind of reception he would invite when he applied for the post of VC of Jaffna university. The real mischief maker here is Mahinda Rajapakse. Mahinda has an ulterior motive here.Don't tell me he didn't expect this reaction from the LTTE and the students.The only honourable thing for Prof Hoole to do now is to not accept the post for the sake of the education of the students.
As for your question, 'what the Tamils have achieved by these murders?', I can only say that time will tell if it is all worthwhile. But for the moment, despite the poverty and deprivations, there is a feeling of relief and satisfaction that two thirds of the Tamil homeland is free for the Tamils to live in without fear and with dignity.
Any ethnic group that is fighting for its freedom will win its freedom only when it stays united. If it is riven by divisions and distractions it will not only lose more people in the battlefield but it will also never win its freedom. |
magha
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2383
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 14:54:52 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Naleen ,
For some reasons the picture you see through your naked eyes is a distortion than the reality, so you need corrective lenses . Get your eyes checked.
I have in depth discussed about university admission criteria in a different thread and I am not going to repeat it. I have not seen any of your responses at all except that you agreed once with Gaja Lakshmi about a 100% merit basis.
For your in formation it is not the present quota system which created problems in the country,but unscientific , and racist media wise standardization introduced by Sirima Banda government by then secretary of education who was also a Kandyan Premadasa Udugama, without consulting Educators of the country for political reasons. This is the very reason that system was later abolished and UGC was established in 1978.
I have also posted about the development of Western type of education in Sri Lanka and I have not seen any of your arguments in that.
So do not take the razor blade like a monkey and start waving around if you do not know what you are talking about .
For some body like you, who have blind faith in UNP I have no doubts a visit to the eye doctor will make a big difference in your life. |
tamilcanuck
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5470
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 15:04:36 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Magha wrote,
''For some reasons the picture you see through your naked eyes is a distortion than the reality, so you need corrective lenses . Get your eyes checked. '''
----------
This post is not meant to be taken serious. Just thought how we go about calling others racist when they dont see our view.
---------
i will agree on the basis that Magha has been consistent with his stance while Naleen doesnt a have a stance.
Magha looks into his crytal ball (CB) and sees this
TC is a racist (usual reasons)
Naleen is a racist UNP man and Usual reasons)
Now its Naleens turn
TC is a racist (usual reasons)
Magha is a racist SLFP man and Usual reasons
TC looks in
Both are racists
lets grab all the IRCs (Islands Racist Click) and put them in a room and see what happens. I have a feeling magha & Naleen will quickly sign a pact and come after me!!
Edited By - tamilcanuck - 14 Mar 2006 17:51:23 GM |
Abdulsalaam
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 587
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 15:16:02 GMT Report for Abuse
|
If, in the south, the most suitable Tamil is overlooked because of his anti-government sentiments and a Sinhalese is appointed, it is discrimination, racism and what not. If, in the north, the most suitable Tamil is appointed but the appointment is opposed because he opposes LTTE's misdemeanour, what do you call that? Isn't it downright hypocrisy on the part of those who oppose Prof. Hoole's appointment as VC?
Supposing Prof. Hoole is overlooked in a southern university and a Sinhalese chosen, won't there be cries of discrimination? |
piranha
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1233
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 15:23:03 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Magha & Tamilcanuck,
Both of you seem to be ganging up on Naleen for expressing a particular view on university admission criteria.I support his view that merit based admission is the best way.
Admissions criteria based purely on merit should have been maintained. Places for students from disadvantaged areas of the country should have been created rather than imposing a language and district based admission criteria.The purpose of the latter in my view was intended to discriminate against the Tamils. |
piranha
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1233
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 15:31:52 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Abdulsalaam,
The furore about Prof Hoole's appointment has nothing to do with discrimination.
Educators should stay away from politics. There are enough politicians in the country.If they wish to dabble in politics,they should do so after retiring or resigning.
Prof Hoole is not going to create an atmosphere at Jaffna university that will be conducive to the education of the students. Even before his arrival he has disturbed the hornet's nest that is the Jaffna university.It is Prof Hool who created the problem and not the LTTE or the students. |
magha
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2383
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 17:30:56 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Merit based admission is appropriate if Higher education in Sri Lanka is not free education and not limited.In an under developed country like Sri Lanka where there is a big discrepancy in education standards penalizing under privileged students for there mediocre performances is a selfish attitude of a nation. One can not discriminate any body by ethnicity, what language they speak nor for the lack of good education because of unequal development of the country. Therefore standardization is important to our country. Today if there was no standardization then Tamils of North and East would not be able to enter university with lower Z score. Similarly the seats allocated to them according to population basis in 1993 gives them the same quota though the population of North and East , especially when in Jaffna the population has declined significantly over the last decade.
If we abolish the standardization to day and go for 100% merit basis as most of the Tamils members advocate then Tamils will loose many places in university admission.
Edited By - magha - 14 Mar 2006 21:30:27 GMT |
tamilcanuck
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5470
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 17:48:56 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Piranha,
The post above was made in Jest. i will edit that post so that noone gets the impression i'm calling folks racist. thought it looked funny!!
The issue i have with Naleen is not about standization. I have explained in other threads the issue i have with him. Naleen and Magha are folks i will continue to have discussions allthough we may never Agree. between all the name calling there is a bit of civility when dealing with these gents! |
Gaja
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2577
Member Profile
|
14 Mar 2006 21:44:00 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Thank you Magha for your response.
I identify with some of your current statements and believe that it is far different to the substance you first published in this forum.
I believe that the merit base can be used only where there is conscious logical thinking and where this has been used for a long time in the environment. Relative to Sri Lanka, Australia is far more democratic at the public level and even here in Australia, democracy is often not pacticed when the person in physical possession/control of the outcomes is fearful of losing what s/he thought belonged to her/him. We therefore need to feel connected to the wisdom of majority if we seek to win at the physical level. This is the parallel of the voting system in governance.
Sri Lanka must develop its own unique system of education and have the confidence to uphold its values through the language of democracy.
Where the education system is funded by the Public, the 'area' based entrance to Local Universities must be an option available to the tax payers who trust the government. However, the two NATIONAL level universities must operate largely on merit basis so our graduates would feel connected to the International community.
Area based entrance recognizes the value of the ideas promoted by local communities. It's like carrying forward family values intuitively by respecting our ancestors. I am for example primarily international because of my greatgrandfather A.M.Pillai who migrated from Jaffna to Burma and established a Business Empire through which he funded education in Sri Lanka. By respecting my greatgrandfather through my mother - I am carrying forward the investments he made. I therefore feel a responsibility to continue with his international standards. It's like Sir Muthukumaraswami who is reported to have married a relative of Queen Victoria which facilitated Sir Muthu to share his culture with the Queen of England. These are intuitive values that give us confidence to perform in today's international environment. Those who cling to 'local' results miss out on this.
We must choose the path that is most natural to us - in the consciousness of our family and community. Facilitating tht choice is the government's responsibility. Making that choice is the citizen's privilege. At the moment, it looks as if the government has failed to facilitate that choice at its highest level. When Universities get it right - the educated citizens in Public Administration will get it right.
In summary - the merit base does not recognize the contribution made by the Public in higher education - but only the student. The area based system must therefore continue to represent the investment made by the people - especially the people who studied genuinely but failed to get places due to unlawful interference through a weak administration. Merit base helps identify and uphold FACTS - top-down through the Admin system. Turht is the Universal connector and where the Admin system is weak - credits must be awarded through subjecting voting system -the parallel of which in the University Entrance system is the proportional system.
The Vice Chancellor of University of Jaffna must be chosen on merit basis if the University is a National one. Otherwise it must be chosen as per the Tiger preference - the 'proportional' representation basis - the basis preferred by the Sinhalese government. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
love
gaja
Edited By - Gaja - 14 Mar 2006 22:12:05 GMT |
hellogoodbye
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 541
Member Profile
|
15 Mar 2006 00:08:57 GMT Report for Abuse
|
Gaja,
I fully support a strict merit based system in SL, if there are other issues then the government should address those; not cook-up the system. At the same time it is difficult to deny that standardisation has not brought benefits to villages, where there are more doctors, engineers, etc there than otherwise would be, and as a result the whole village has 'advanced.'
But merit based admission in the 'west' may not seem as clear-cut as you or I would tend to think and you may know more about this than I. Some time ago I met an Chinese-Australian couple who are both medical specialists, both of them individually pay more annual taxes than the average income of an Australian family. But their child could not gain admission to a medical school although having done very well at school academically; failed the interview. The father told me the idea behind the interview is that they realised if the admission was solely based on merit, most of the medical students would be of Asian origin while the population is mainly White. So the interview is a way of redressing the imbalance. As people who have paid more taxes than several generations of an Australian family, they were deeply hurt about this.
By the way, just out of curiosity, are you a follower of Krishnamurthy or some one? I don't mean this in any negative way, but you always attach the physical world with another realm.
Edited By - hellogoodbye - 15 Mar 2006 01:14:29 G |
|
