How do you evaluate Sri Lankan Credentials? & Effectively recruit Sri Lankans Presented by Nelum Senadira OSEAS Student Adviser US-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission

EducationUSA Supported by US Department of State Approximately 450 EducationUSA centers worldwide. Centers are in different organizations, with various setups

Educational Advising Centers Host Organizations

Sri Lanka Multi-ethnic Multi religious Population – 19 million Democratic political system Free market economy

Adult literacy rate 92% Youth literacy rate 97% State expenditure on education 3.1%

The System Compulsory schooling State funded education English taught as a second language Public, private, international schools 15 State universities Professional institutions

The Structure Level/AgeGradesComments Primary/ 5-9 yrs1-5 Jr. Secondary/10-15 yrs 6-11G.C.E. (O/L) Sr. Secondary/Collegiate yrs 12-13G.C.E. (A/L) UndergraduateBA, BSc (Gen) BA,BSc, B.Com (Sp ) MBBS 3 years 4 years 5 years GraduateMA/MSc/MBA PhD 2 years 3 years

Concerns Admission to Universities only on Sri Lankan A/Ls. Of the qualified, only 2% will enter. Ragging. Constant closures due to political interferences. Vigorous propaganda campaigns by others.

How do you evaluate Sri Lankan Credentials?

Sri Lankan Education System –Existing Reference: AACRAO’s 1986 P.I.E.R publication “ The Academic Placement of Students From South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – A Workshop Project Report” edited by Leo Sweeney and Valerie Woolston NOOSR’s 1992 Country Education Profiles “ Sri Lanka, a comparative study”, by Australian Department of Employment, Education and Training The Internet: University Grants Commission Ministry of Education:

Many changes during the last two decades Most notable : Changes in Structure of education Changes to the A/L

The Present Structure of Education Introduced in Fully implemented in Includes changes from Gr

Medium of Instruction Re-introduction of English as a choice for medium of instruction School Structure Primary: Gr. 1-5, Age of admission 5+, Curriculum begins at Gr. 1 Junior Secondary: Grade 6-9 Senior Secondary: Grade 10-11, G.C.E.(O/L) exam Collegiate: Grade 12-13, G.C.E. (A/L) exam **Result: 13 years of High School Education**

Changes to the A/L Reduction of subjects from 4 to 3 (6.6 hours per week per subject for two years ) Introduction of core subjects: a) Common General Paper (CGP) - a reasoning test b) General English Paper (basic level) Admission to University: a) a pass in all 3 subjects + CGP b) degree of difficulty level of subjects (Z-score).

University Level: Undergraduate: LLB, BA & BSc (General) = 3years BA & BSc (Special)& B.Com = 4 years MBBS = 5 years Postgraduate: Masters = 2 years PhD= 5 years

 Formal education begins at grade 1.  Result: 13 years of High School education.  Re-introduction of English as a medium of education  3 subjects  Common General Paper: measures General Knowledge & IQ  General English Paper: Not equal to the subject English.  Equal to UK GCE A/L exam.