The Federation of University Teachers Union (FUTA) has opposed the decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to close the universities temporarily. It has written to the UGC, taking exception to the latter’s decision to allow Vice Chancellors to decide when to reopen universities.

 Full text of the FUTA letter to the UGC Chairman:The Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) is writing this in response to the University Grant Commission’s (UGC) decision to allow the Vice Chancellors of state Universities to decide whether to keep the respective universities open or close them, considering the prevailing situation in the country, and the decision of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya that followed, to temporarily discontinue all academic activities owing to the inability to sustain its programmes of study in the prevailing conditions.

 We appreciate the difficulties that have arisen to students, such as the lack of adequate hostel facilities which has resulted in overcrowding, illness and poor sanitation, prohibitive food and transport costs, and poor-quality foods. We understand that these difficulties are on top of the uncertainties that the economic crisis has brought for them and their families.We would like to highlight that apart from the difficulties faced by students, staff are faced with the uncertainties brought about by the lack of transportation and, where available, the rising cost of transportation.

 Furthermore, the general lack of resources required for a university to function makes keeping universities in operation practically impossible. While acknowledging the extreme challenges and difficulties outlined above, it is our belief as the main trade union of academics representing the state university system, that we need a more creative and committed response from the government to the impact of the current economic crisis on higher education.The university authorities, including the Vice Chancellors, Deans and Registrars, are in a hopeless situation as the government is not offering any kind of credible strategy or assistance to face this situation.

 We would also like to highlight the fact that although every faculty in each university had to admit additional numbers of students for the last two intakes, the UGC has so far failed to provide any of the additional resources it has promised to cater for these students. This is another reason for the inability of the universities to sustain at this moment of crisis. However, the solution is not and cannot be simply shutting down the universities. Students’ education has already been severely impacted by two years of the pandemic and now with the economic catastrophe unfolding in Sri Lanka there is significant threat to the future of the entire education system in the country.

 We need a system in place that would allow university staff to have transport facilities to report to work. For students in hostels to have their basic nutritional needs and other livelihood needs catered to. Without such a system, simply shutting down institutions in an ad hoc manner will lead to catastrophic breakdown in the entire education system. We ask “Where is our government? What is it doing? How can a country function in this manner?” Shutting down entire sectors of the economy and society is not the way to face this crisis. We need better answers. We need better responses. We cannot simply jeopardize the future of our youth. Therefore, the FUTA asks the university authorities and the UGC to immediately discuss the dire situation in universities with the government and convince it that education is a vital component of our society and ensure that at least a minimum of resources is allocated to ensure the functioning of the education system.