By Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
I am deeply sorry that the Federation of University Teachers, in an otherwise very sensible statement regarding the current controversy over the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission, has misrepresented my position in the matter.
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha
It has claimed that ‘the misrepresentation of FUTA’s call for her resignation, as a form of political victimization by the State Minister of Higher Education is either deliberately mischievous or astoundingly naïve’. I have never commented on FUTA’s call for her resignation, which is a perfectly legitimate exercise. It is FUTA’s duty to bring possible abuses to the notice of the authorities, and it is the duty of the authorities to inquire into allegations, which is a measure FUTA says it would welcome.
I am deeply sorry that FUTA has turned this controversy into an effort to attack me personally, because I believe strongly in many of their ideals, and was delighted by the statement concerning the manner in which official bodies relating to the university sector should be established. At a very lively discussion at the Senate room in Peradeniya, in which many academics participated despite FUTA calling, because of my presence, for a boycott of an event to celebrate Lakshman Kadirgamar, it transpired that I had already included much of what they suggested in my initial draft for a new Universities Act.
My quarrel has been with the process followed by the authorities, not with what FUTA has requested. As FUTA now seems to grant, once allegations were made, they needed to be looked into. I have looked into all allegations brought to my notice appropriately, and it is astonishing that the Cabinet Minister should have, as he put it, demanded the resignation of the head of UGC, invoking the name of the President which was completely misplaced because of pressure brought by FUTA..
But FUTA must accept that sadly it has engaged in politicization by going over my head, and indeed over the head of the Cabinet Minister, by appealing direct to the Prime Minister. This is precisely the nonsense that happened earlier when, in response to complaints made to him, the former President gave instructions to others. I am happy to say the present President does not behave like that, and instead refers problems to those to whom he has delegated authority. The interference by the Prime Minister in matters where the President has delegated authority elsewhere is unacceptable, and must stop, in the interests of Good Governance. FUTA should support me in my efforts to ensure that proper systems are followed, and that their complaints are properly investigated rather than accepted without question. Those are practices we should all work together to stop, because giving in to pressure and perpetuating injustice in the supposed interests of justice is also abuse of power.
FUTA wishes to clarify certain misconceptions regarding the resignation of the Chairperson of the University Grants Commission that have arisen recently due to various media reports.
The FUTA requested the UGC Chair, Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama to resign due to several critical issues which she has failed to address during her tenure. These include issues of conflict of interest, misuse and abuse of power and directly contributing to the politicisation of the university sector. These issues have been communicated to Prof Hirimburegama several times during the past two years. However, Prof Hirimburegama has consistently failed to respond adequately to the requests made by FUTA to clarify these issues. Consequently, the academic community, has lost confidence in Prof Hirimburegama’s ability to provide leadership to the university system and therefore requested her resignation.
If the government wishes to inquire into these allegations, we most certainly welcome such a move. It is not FUTA’s responsibility to make inquiries into such allegations, it is the responsibility of the government. However, as a responsible trade union, it is FUTA’s obligation to function as a watch dog and to bring to the notice of the relevant authorities instances of wrong doing by those appointed to positions of authority. As a trade union, FUTA will continue to function as a pressure group on behalf of its membership as well as for the advancement of the sector it represents.
Prof Kshanika Hirumburegama, represents for FUTA and its membership, all that was wrong with university administration under the previous regime. Her continued presence at the UGC, sends an extremely negative message to the university community as a whole – eagerly anticipating a change to the dismissive and authoritarian manner in which it was dealt with under the previous regime. It was under Prof Hirumberegama that the UGC deteriorated from an independent body overseeing the administration of the highest academic bodies of this country to a mere political appendage of the previous regime. Therefore, the misrepresentation of FUTA’s call for her resignation, as a form of political victimization by the State Minister of Higher Education is either deliberately mischievous or astoundingly naive.
We call upon all those who are responsible to put an end to the uncertainty with regard to the leadership of the University Grants Commission. We also appeal to all concerned to engage constructively and collaboratively with all stakeholders in the university system in resolving problems. We strongly urge the government not to further politicise the university sector by using it as a site for resolving power struggles within different factions. The university system has suffered long enough due to incompetent leadership at various levels and also due to an unprecedented degree of political interference during the past decade. It is time to close the chapter on a decidedly unsavoury past and to move towards a more democratic and transparent future in which the cherished academic principles of academic freedom and university autonomy are valued.
Courtesy:The Island