By J. Charitha Ratwatte Jnr.
“Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.”
-- John F. Kennedy
On Thursday, December 3rd, students of Royal College, Colombo 7 had an opportunity to learn about their options for higher education and to learn about free, unbiased services available to help them further. SL2College, a free, independent and open service set up for this purpose, organized the event. Special guests at the event were representatives from the U.S.-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, a bi-national commission dedicated to promote closer relations between Sri Lanka and the United States of America, including through educational exchanges.
Sri Lanka boasts a literacy rate of over 90%, and a primarily state-financed education system that promises a free education to all that desire it. A series of competitive examinations grooms students for the ultimate goal – a university education, which is proven to significantly increase individual earning capacity and contribute to economic growth.
Every year, almost half of the 3.5 lakhs or more students who sit for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination qualify for the Advanced Level. Of those Advanced Level students, 60% qualify to enter the state university system. Yet less than 15% of those eligible students actually gain admission to state universities. What happens to the other 85%, over 1 lakh, fully eligible for a Free State education?
That question, among others, led to the creation of SL2College, an independent, free and open platform for Sri Lankan students to understand and explore all their options for higher education. SL2College reaches out a helping hand to prospective undergraduate and graduate students through its website with moderated forums; online and newspaper articles; and seminars and information sessions. At the core of the service are the friendly and unselfish exchanges between peers where those with the most relevant experience answer questions and share advice. Topics range from university selection, to application tips, to travel and accommodation and a host of other areas.
SL2College believes that breaking the information asymmetries surrounding choices for higher education with free, unbiased and open information will increase overall access to education. Every beneficiary of SL2College’s services is encouraged to give back to the community by helping those who come after them, as by well as contributing to Sri Lanka’s economy and development, whether from Sri Lanka or abroad.
