By Vinu Grero –
Vinu Grero
A few days back I went for a leaflet campaign and one question asked by the people was if the students at SAITM are qualified to do a medical degree. A lot of SAITM students are speaking up and this is what I have to say #mysaitmstory
I am a 5th year medical student at SAITM and a past pupil from Lyceum International School Nugegoda.
Like most, I too had a dream of becoming a doctor.
I completed my A/Ls following the Cambridge syllabus and achieved A* and A grades of Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
The Sri Lankan government University has no place for students who pass out from school completing their studies under the London syllabus. So these students need to obtain their tertiary education from a private university. Luckily in Sri Lanka there are several private universities providing degrees in engineering, business management, IT and so on. But SAITM is the only university giving the opportunity for students to do medicine after following the London syllabus (and as well as students who were not fortunate enough to get into the state universities).
With the results I obtained for A/Ls I looked for several universities abroad and I did have the opportunity to get in to some of the best to do medicine but unfortunately my parents were reluctant to send me for several reasons and I was just 16 years old at this time.
So I decided to continue my studies here in mother Lanka. I applied to SAITM which has UGC approval therefore was legally entitled for SLMC registration. To enter I had to undergo two interviews, one which was held by SAITM and the other by the UGC. The total fee for my education was 6.2 million (not 12 million).
Here at SAITM, we are taught by some of the best doctors, consultants and professors in the country. Some who have taught in state universities for many years. Coming this far was not easy for us. We had to work hard through many exams just as in any medical college. Our exams are conducted by SAITM but we have external examiners from state universities at our examination and if any student was not up to the standard they would be failed just like in any university. So just cause we pay for our education, it doesn’t come easy. We need to earn it!
In the past, our students have been denied to do their clinical training at government hospitals which had been offered to SAITM. Therefore SAITM has made a path for us to obtain our clinicals from our very own hospital and from certain private hospitals in the country. As we are guided by the same lecturers as the state medical faculties I don’t see that there is a difference in the knowledge we get. The Students at SAITM have learnt to gather the maximum out of what we have been offered.
Sri Lanka has more than 100 private school and over 5000 students pass out each year and majority of these students want to do medicine and be doctors. It’s just sad to see that Sri Lankan government is yet not able to provide a proper path for these students. Studying abroad is not easy. It cost a lot and this money could be kept within the country if the government had established a way to do so.
At present, there are over 800 students at SAITM, students who are smart and very well qualified. I hope you would take some time and read their stories. Closing down SAITM is not the answer. Nobody would want their dreams destroyed! Education is a right for all no matter what background we come from. So I am asking you to help us! #standwithSAITM
#MySAITMStory #මගේSAITMකතාව
Sunil / March 15, 2017
Your story draws my sympathy. But please remember medicine and doctors are very risky profession that can cost a life. Private Medical College is not good. Take for example India. I live in Dubai and many Indians tell me that you can buy a medical degree in India. By giving Professors 5 to 10 Million Indian Rupees, they will ensure you move from exam to exam and become a doctor. Considering the height of corruption today in the world and sri lanka, it is very likely Private Medical colleges will become corrupt.I understand your parents concern. Best is for your mother to be with you abroard until you complete your studies. As you have good results, you can get easily a scholarship. Best of luck
/
DR SULAIMAN / March 15, 2017
I agree with you but a lot of highly qualified students are missing out ..
/
Eusense / March 15, 2017
Sulaiman,
These highly qualified students are not these SAITM students but the ones who got selected for Dentistry, Veterinary, Agriculture, Bio Science. SAITM students if getting a chance they should be admitted after these students.
/
Banda / March 15, 2017
If private universities in Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, the UK and etc. etc. are recognized in Sri Lanka and internationally why not SAITM is acceptable? I do not know whether it is a fact that medical degrees can be bought in India. For one thing that certainly is not the case in Malaysia. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been more than ten internationally accepted private medical collages attracting more than 175,000 foreign students bringing Malaysia more than US$2 billion annually. So why be like India when we can be like Malaysia.
/
silva / March 15, 2017
because the students are having brain enough to sit an exam to prove their skill but this rich idiots in SAITM want to become doctor by throwing money to some money earger monkeys without sitting for an exam
/
watcher / March 15, 2017
The idea is not to run away, but try and get SAITM fool proof, may be by requesting that they gradually change over to a non profit basis specially after Dr. Neville is no more. I understood that he had left the major share to UGC as legacy. He is not a money grabber and knows how to profit and that is why SAITM is what it is today. May be future needs a change, but surely these things can be negotiated.. SLMC is more corrupt than you think
/
Loyal Citicen / March 15, 2017
Sunil
If US, European countries, Bangladesh, Nepal, Russia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, Australia can have good private Medical Colleges why can’t we? Why look at only India? Our students go out spending vast amounts of money. Why can’t we get students and foreign exchange by opening up quality educational Institutes.
Our people seem to be very foolish and some are very selfish. Country won’t progress until the people change.
/
The Citizen / March 15, 2017
Provide free education only up to secondary/high school (Advanced level).
In most of the developed and developing countries higher (university) education is not free. Education is free only up to high school (secondary) level. People do not value anything they get free and a good example is the universities in Sri Lanka which have become hotbeds of political violence and intimidation. In other countries even the state-run universities have financial and administrative control and of course, academic independence. To do this, the students should be asked to pay nominal fees. Interest-free student loans should be freely available (especially for the under privileged students from low-income families) to cover the fees and living expenses like in many developed countries where the re-payments begin only after they obtain employment. This way, the government can overcome many unmanageable problems including abuse of state universities by the students and ensure sound education, good staff and value for money. In such seats of higher learning no political meddling, student clashes, threats to the staff, brutal ragging and boycotting of classes will be tolerated. A socio-economic environment leading to such disturbances will not be there in these establishments. There will be no opportunities for using university students as political tools. By doing so, the government can also increase the number of universities and save foreign exchange by helping our children to study here instead of going abroad. For this to happen Sri Lanka needs leaders with a back bone, right now there is none. I hope our next President (who has lived in a developed country and knows very well how those universities function) will be able to make this change.
At present, the free higher education in Sri Lanka is catering professionals for the needs of well developed countries at the cost of the taxpaying people of Sri Lanka. The students get a free secondary and sometimes tertiary education in Sri Lanka and then spend the Sri Lankan foreign exchange in going to developed countries for further higher education. After spending all that Sri Lankan money for their total education in Sri Lanka and abroad, some of them end up serving and paying tax to those countries with no benefit what so ever to Sri Lanka.
/
srinath gunaratne / March 15, 2017
Do you know the % spent on education in SL?
Free education has helped kids from poor families to become great professionals in Sri Lanka! Eradicator of poverty in the country!
Sons of a hospital attendants became doctors thanks to the free education.
We have lot of bastard kids who does not know the value of it, True, But that is no reason to deprive this equal opportunity.
This is biggest investment the country has ever done!
Train more and export them. Nurses, Engineers, Doctors, They will bring money into the country!
India made a revolution by sending programmers to fix boring Y2K bugs in US and Europe. Those who went, send so much money in to the country.
/
The Citizen / March 16, 2017
“Free education has helped kids from poor families to become great professionals”
Kids from very poor families in other countries have also become great professionals. Sons of a hospital attendants and street sweepers/garbage collectors have become doctors, engineers and lawyers. However, they all pay for the University education. They take interest free student loans which are repaid very much later in small installments after they get a job.
Just because a few get free education, a large number of eligible and capable students (unfortunately born in Sri Lanka) are deprived from their basic right to higher education.
“This is biggest investment the country has ever done! Train more and export them. Nurses, Engineers, Doctors, They will bring money into the country!”
Nonsense!
Several of my classmates who went to state universities in Sri Lanka (medical and Engineering) migrated to Australia. They are busy buying houses and paying bills including taxes in Australia, nothing left to send back to Sri Lanka. They all got free education from the Sri Lankan tax payers. Only those few who went to mid-east bring money into the country.
/
Dami / March 15, 2017
Sunil you are a four legged fool without a tail……
/
srinath gunaratne / March 15, 2017
So You are happy someone to buy a engineering degree and build flat that can kill many hundred?
If a quality of the degree degrades, it affects the ranking of the University, No sane education seller wants to see this.
This is not India, This is Sri Lanka, We have quality education,
Why not let these student sit Colombo exams,
Why not we have one exam for all the medical students.
Then we can see who is really good.
Will GMOA pigs agree to this?
Establishing couple of high quality private medical colleges will be a great foreign income earner! It is a shame narrow mindedness always play the major part in SL.
/
The Citizen / March 16, 2017
“This is not India, This is Sri Lanka, we have quality education”
Go to the US and see the number of Indian professionals (thousands of them) but only a very few Sri Lankans. Why is America taking thousands of Indian graduates but hardly any Sri Lankans?
/
rohantha / March 15, 2017
The concern of yours can be addressed , if the Government carries out a common exam for all students irrespective of State or Private. Then all medical students will be evaluated on same standards. Even now you can’t say for sure, colombo faculty and pera faculty evaluation are same. These issues are simple to resolve if the government has the will.
/
maalumiris / March 15, 2017
“Considering the height of corruption today in the world and sri lanka, it is very likely Private Medical colleges will become corrupt”
So Sunil, since you say the above, can you claim that even the public medical college (i.e. University) cannot become corrupt ?
Or is there some “magic” surrounding the public system that keeps it Pure ???
Considering the strikes, time-wasting and abuse of public property and political games carried out by the public university students (because they have no appreciation of what they are getting for FREE from MY TAXES), I think it is high time that alternate solution is made for people who really want to study and can afford to pay for it
Those who can’t afford, can stay on at the public universities and stop wasting time and actually do some studies
/
Kavinda / March 15, 2017
My dear why did not you do local ALs?? You shold have known the consequences of doing London ALs. What are your options for higher education and all. All your problems would have been solved in 2010 when you decide your ALs.
/
Banda / March 15, 2017
You pose silly questions and an irrational opinion because you have not comprehend the young lady’s write-up.
/
Ranjith / March 15, 2017
Dear Kavinda
Please come out from the tube well that you are living , now we are living in year 2017, not 100 years back, Lenin is no more…..
/
srinath gunaratne / March 15, 2017
Are you trying to be a patronizing pig to a innocent kid?
/
Amarasiri / March 15, 2017
Dear Ms.Vinu Grero
RE: My SAITM Story
“I completed my A/Ls following the Cambridge syllabus and achieved A* and A grades of Chemistry, Biology and Physics.”
“The Sri Lankan government University has no place for students who pass out from school completing their studies under the London syllabus. So these students need to obtain their tertiary education from a private university.”
Thanks for sharing your education, experience and your current situation. First of all, you are a Sri Lankan, and have rights. GMOA or SLMC cannot take it away! The courts have correctly ruled on this Private Medical College issue.
For those against private MEDICAL universities, WHY ONLY MEDICINE? WHY ONLY SAITM? What about the thousands graduating from international schools? They all need a place to go,wither locally or abroad.
The REAL Issue is Castism, Hegemony of SLMC and GMOA.. All the other arguments are distractions. It is the Mafia of the SLMC and GMOA.
There are Private Hospitals. Why not Ban Private hospitals? Because they are making money foe whom? Doctors, to fleece the populace. In the meantime the diabetes rate has gone up with about 16% of the population being diabetic and another 33% being pre-diabetic.
It is about retaining their franchise to charge patients, cast-ism and greed, at the expense of the country and the populace.
The People are with you, and the Courts are with you. The Patients want treatment, Right now, the Doctors trained with Tax payer’s money, work for a salary in the Govt, Hospitals, and then work for Private hospitals who pay more, and the patients pay more.
Only the poor, who cannot afford go to Govt. hospitals.
Expose, expose and expose the SLMC and GMOA Mafia. Are the Mafia working in Private Hospitals in order to fleece the populace?
/
The Citizen / March 15, 2017
The past governments under both SLFP and UNP wanted to establish private universities (Medical, Engineering and Law) in Sri Lanka but failed. , One reason is the JVP which is very active in the state universities and are very successful in hoodwinking the students and the gullible masses with their false propaganda. Unfortunately, the prevailing government was unable to counter the false JVP propaganda and educate the masses on the true reality.
On the other hand, some members of the University Grants Commission and some of the good-for-nothing academics are also involved in arousing the students to protest because all the mistakes or rather blunders of the state universities will come to light and obviously the standard and quality of the private university degrees will be way ahead than the state universities, thereby the value of the state university degrees will gradually see depletion. In other words, the state universities will have competitors and hence will need to strive hard to increase their own standards, to match the private universities.
They convince the students with their fallacy that by introducing private universities, the government will finally end up in the privatization of the country’s entire free education system, and only those with affluent backgrounds will get the priority and also the non-state universities will further encroach on job opportunities available for graduates from state universities.
Due to the limited number of state universities and non-availability of private universities, most of the capable and intelligent students from both urban and village areas are deprived of their higher (University) education due to the old fashioned obsolete policies of a few ignorant politicians (like JVP) and their supporters, some of the good-for-nothing academics in the state universities behave like narrow minded politicians. Due to their bigoted attitude, a large majority of our capable students are forced to terminate their education at secondary level. The students, who could not afford University education in foreign countries become underutilized resources. They have the talents and willingness but unfortunately they don’t have the opportunity to flourish. The solution therefore is to allow the private sector to open additional universities. Setting up private universities will help in providing basic education to one and all making higher education available and also for the highly qualified, under-paid teaching staff, this will provide better employment opportunities.
/
Lankan one / March 15, 2017
Thank you very much for your thoughtful ideas..I agree with you…I can say a lot more about state univeristies in SL. Some of univeristy lecturers are useless and they have bought certificate with bribe from some foreign universities…if you check some of promotion and appointments in state universities you will be surprised and shocking ..I do not know about medical professionals but many have fake certificates in SL universities..really they fear the quality of private universities in SL. That is why they oppose
/
Amarasiri / March 15, 2017
The Citizen
GMOA and SLMC have bribed the JVP.
Look, who is supporting GMOA and SLMC to maintain their Cast-ism and hegemony, and fleece the masses.? JVP
/
Dr NAS. / March 15, 2017
Sorry to hear your stories. Education policy makers are some inneptitute people in SL.UGC chairman is appointed by political influence and some time qualified people are sidelined in SL. This show that SL utterly failed in policy making in education. I heard like this many times. A daughter of my friend is educated in UK and she came to SL but could not donA/L in SL national schools? What on earth is going in SL. Who’s mistake is it ? Is it politicians or educationalists..? Who’s mistake is it…
Why do governemnt ignore these talented students?
Why governemnt Drs do not appreciate the richness of SL human resources…of course, SL does not have enough money to allocate for education…find a way out for this? Allocate more money for Eudcation and make more facilities to get more students into national system or let private medical colleges come out ..but goverment, medical council and UGC should have grip on them..
/
silva / March 15, 2017
same story is repeated . please hire some body who can write differently. foolish mentally retarded students who want to become doctor via backdoor are not able to write their own stories even. anybody who read this series will easily identify that all of these are written by same person.
only girls photos are utilised for this business by SAITM. so if this also fail what is going to be next step by using these girls.
/
Nahfees / March 15, 2017
@Silva,
It is preposterous to call them foolish and retard as you cannot appreciate reality. You are engulfed by your own ego who fails to appreciate other peoples talent. She has proved in the exams that she is intelligent and well qualified to attend a tertiary institution.
I do not mind you writing comments that is critical comments but for god sake refrain from writing comments that is demeaning.
Cheers
/
silva / March 15, 2017
people who scared to do a proper exam and want to become just throwing money are mentally retarded form me. people who support them are brainless creature for me. morethan that utilising those mentally retarded people`s photo to attract public is called as……!
/
maalumiris / March 15, 2017
silva
Do us all a favour and PLEASE stop spouting BS
What happened to you ? You or your kids could not qualify to get into ANY institute of Higher Study so now for you, everyone is as brainless ?
Or are you one of those jackass “Sahodarayas” who stay on in Uni, defacing the walls, destroying public property (on MY taxes) until you are 40 years old, not passing anything but sitting an endless “goo-chakkaraya” of exam after exam (and failing) and taking every opportunity to join every strike or political action that happens to come up and deprive others of their right to education ?
Do Tell!
/
Srilal / March 15, 2017
Silva ,
Remember you calling the other girl ( The first who started writing “My SAITM story” ) a brainless girl for not getting qualified for the state Uni ? now what ? so , according to your dumb theory only one girl is doing the writing , what a prick you are !
Silva , you are a mentally restarted , arrogant lose canon , try to focus something you can truly understand , these topics are way beyond your mental capacity ;hence , i recommend you to concentrate on “Mullareiyawa Hospital ” instead.
Adios!
/
silva / March 15, 2017
Srilal !
saitm is trying to attract some idiotic public by showing some photos of girls, its work actually.
/
Srilal / March 16, 2017
Silva ,
Before expressing your silly , offensive thoughts on public forums , why don’t you take some time to improve your English fluency level ? Go through your all comments and see how many grammatical errors are there ? Mate , you are humiliating yourself by exposing your true character !!
/
silva / March 15, 2017
yes still these idiots are mentally retard otherwise why they want to get a degre by paying money withou sitting for exam
/
rajakaruna / March 15, 2017
she wanted to study in mother lanka but she studied london AL. this 3 A is not a bid deal dear. I know one of my friend got all F in our AL got all A in london AL. so dont be proud about ur result.
/
Atticus / March 15, 2017
Envy is not an admirable quality.
/
srinath gunaratne / March 15, 2017
Does anyone know the English word for “Kuhakaya”?
/
Srilal / March 15, 2017
Khakaya = Hypocrite
/
Daleena / March 15, 2017
I know people who got As for local AL and failed at London ALs.
/
PARAMANATHAN K / March 15, 2017
Your comment is too rude. Please don’t be jealous about her outstanding performance. We can’t go by your example as you seemed to be highly biased. Are you challenging the standard of University of Cambridge?
/
The Citizen / March 15, 2017
According to this rajakaruna, the Sri Lankan education (AL and so on) is the best in the world, very much higher than the western countries. That may be the reason why Sri Lanka is considered (by people like rajakaruna) to be the most developed, rich, first world country whereas United Kingdom is considered to be the least developed, poor, third world country…LOL!
/
suman / March 15, 2017
EXAMPLE OF FINAL EXAM AT saitm
EXAMINER – Tell me disease and organism responsible
SAITM student – disease – Snake bit
organism responsible – snake
Examiner – what are the side effects of paracetamol
SAITM student – left side, right side , west side and east side.
Examiner – have u ever seen a patient with cirrhosis
Saitm student – no sir I did not see a patient. I have seen only the leg of the patient with cirrhosis. we had only one patient with cirrohis for our group, so each of us only examine one part of his body. I got only the leg of that patient to examine
Examiner – have you seen gun shot injury
Saitm student – yes our CEO
Examiner- what are the indication for ICU admission
Saitm student – as a part of shooting drama to get SLMC registration
/
jim softy / March 15, 2017
London syllabuses are easy to pass.
Sri lankan A/L is very competitive and difficult to pass. Even students who passed with tuition classes are favuoured over those who di dnot goto tuition classes.
When you go the university that reflects.
London A/L and Sri lankan A/L are two different levels.
/
Atticus / March 15, 2017
‘London syllabuses are easy to pass. Sri lankan A/L is very competitive and difficult to pass’
Of all the crap you have posted Jimbo, this undoubtedly takes the cake.
/
Badger / March 15, 2017
If Sri Lankan A levels are of a high a standard and if the levels of education are really high how come Sri Lanka lags behind the UK in pretty much every economic indicator despite 60 years of independence. Also, many of the products of your so-called competitive universities end up going to the UK due to better wages. So you lose!!!
/
Banda / March 15, 2017
In my opinion Sri Lanka O/L is much easier to pass and get grades than London O/L. In my experience however Sri Lanka A/Ls and various UK A/Ls are accepted as almost equal by UK universities.
/
The Citizen / March 15, 2017
It is not that the educational standards in Sri Lanka is higher than other countries. The reason why the Sri Lankan A/L is difficult to pass is because our old Academics (university teachers) sit together for days and weeks in preparing the question papers in such a way that they can fail the maximum number of students due to insufficient Universities whereas London does not have such issues, their Universities can accommodate everybody who pass.
/
Nahfees / March 15, 2017
@Jim softy
I would like to point that London examination has practical tests as part of their curriculum. I previously highlighted, Singapore ministry of education puts their students to do Cambridge A/L. Are you suggesting that all the students are any less intelligent than Sri lankan student? How many olympiads wins our local A/L students has won thus far ?
My citations – http://www.bbc.com/news/education-38212070
– http://www.bbc.com/news/education-38131731
I do not intend to offend anyone doing local exams, It is individual choice to do Local or London syllabus. But do not merely say it is easy. EASY is a subjective term relative to individuals.
Your friend could bean intelligent person as his curiosity may have triggered following his failure produce excellent results in the following exams.
Cheers
/
villageman / March 15, 2017
Oh My God! I have to read 800 more My SAITM Stories???
I Quit.
/
Srilal / March 15, 2017
Great , don’t read !
/
Douglas / March 15, 2017
There was a meeting scheduled by the President to meet and discuss this SAITM issue with the relevant parties, but unfortunately it was postponed. Before this meeting, it was reported that the Deans of the Medical Faculties of the Government Universities, the Teachers and the GMOA met and agreed to put forward a joint proposal. (1) to stop further enrollment of students to SAITM and make it known to the Public. (2) Stop immediately granting of MBBS Degrees by SAITM (3) As there is no legality of the present standards relating to Medical Studies, immediately legalize the standards by Gazette Notification. (4) Ministry of Higher Education must inform SAITM that it has not obtained proper certification for awarding Medical Degrees. (5) The Ministry of Health must immediately give effect to the recommendations contained in the report dated 2015-09-04 of the Committee appointed and issue a Gazette Notification legalizing the provisions to be complied with.(6) Appoint a Committee to look into ways and means of giving relief to the students of SAITM. Why this meeting was not held is yet to be known. As I mentioned in my many comments relating to this SAITM, all the parties responsible and accountable viz. The Ministry of Higher Education; The Ministry of Health; The UGC;The SLMC; The BOI must break away from their cacophonies and meet together to evolve a workable solution to this issue.that which requires immediate attention of all Governmental Authorities to be sorted out as on the basis of an important National Policy. It is time to realize enough of water has flown under the bridge.
/
jim softy / March 15, 2017
It is not good to publish any more articles as it is the same story telling over and over again. Sri lanka needs private medicall colleges and private universities but not fradulent ones.
Because, they govt and the management corrupt do not mean students should suffer.
I hope you all have some good reasonable solution.
/
watcher / March 15, 2017
Not the same story. Vinu realized that SAITM with UGC approval of its entry criteria, course content and curriculum, staff and examiners (external and internal) professorial units etc was legally entitled to SLMC registration. This is more than what GMOA knows. SLMC is bankrupt, inefficient and has no written compliance certificates or minimum standards. They have never issued these and have always registered local MBBS automatically whether KDU, NCMC or state unis. They obstruct SAITM because it is ‘for profit’ and has nothing to do with standards. If they carry out verdict, no problem. Now they have appealed and will get a similar verdict a second time which has to open their rebelling eyes.
/
Sinhala_Man / March 15, 2017
Dear Vinu Grero,
“jim softy” and I don’t usually agree, but we do on this.
If you students want to write any more change at least the caption of your “story”. By now you are seriously damaging your cause by sending us this stereotyped stuff.
You may each have decided to get your “Story” ready; fine! That does not mean that you should send it for public viewing. You are almost, by now, giving us the impression that this has been organised by the management of SAITM.
If you really want to give us more, then the public should be shown how SAITM counters stories like these:
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=161883
This is dry stuff for lawyers. If you can’t present lawyers’ views in an interesting way, just get on with your studies. I’m not reading any more of these.
If any more of these appear (and no doubt there are more in the Sinhala section of Colombo Telegraph, we’ll have to request Colombo Telegraph to stop publishing spam! It may be that you should now get translations of these stories in to Sinhala and then publishing them there for people who haven’t read these to see them.
There’s little point in translating in to Tamil, since very few will bother to read it; they have a more real problem related to the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor for Jaffna University. Few Sinhalese are even aware of what is going on there. It would actually be in your interest to get some of those things translated in to Sinhala and published – even on Colombo Telegraph.
You are now actually spoiling your case!
/
Badger / March 15, 2017
@Jim Softy
If Sri Lankan A levels are of a high a standard and if the levels of education are really high how come Sri Lanka lags behind the UK in pretty much every economic indicator despite 60 years of independence. Also, many of the products of your so-called competitive universities end up going to the UK due to better wages. So you lose!!!
/
Specialist / March 15, 2017
Here is another one!
Welcome to the land of rich sooks who can’t care less about the poor.
Don’t these idiot children with money (but no class) understand that their ‘Cambridge’ grades of As and Bs have no real academic value because they were bought?
Now they are branding these grades to demand for private medical schools.
There are thousands who qualify in this country for university education but can’t get in. They don’t have the money to go to these private tutories offering medicine and brain surgery. So why should the nation subsidise these private tutories for the brainless rich waving overseas AL grades.
There are thousands prepared to lay down their lives against this injustice.Don’t cheat the system by trying to become doctors through the back door, just because you have the filthy money (mostbly earned through illicit means).
If you want to become a doctor, compete in the national system and get in to one of the medical faculties at Colombo, Peradeniya, Ruhuna or where ever. You filthy spoilt brats!
/
The Citizen / March 16, 2017
Another green eyed monster, his jealousy is oozing out from every part of his body.
Specialist is just another uncivilized idiot who is jealous of well-to-do people in the country. Whenever people talk about paid education, he gets a pain in his ass as if a thorny rod is entering. This kind of green eyed monsters are a curse to this country. It is unfortunate that we have to put up with such animals in human form.
/
Srilal / March 16, 2017
Here is another classic example of backward mentality of SLMC , these SLMC jokers think they know every thing ;thus, every body must listen to them ! most of our SL medical Doctors still live 100 years behind the contemporary life of SL ;accordingly , they expect others to abide by their idiocy.
/
Sinhala_Man / March 15, 2017
Please stop imposing “your dreams” on us!
I’m beginning to regret the time that I spent posting very sincere (and positive) responses to the FIRST of these “stories”.
/
Sinhala_Man / March 15, 2017
I’m definitely not reading any more “dreams” – and I haven’t got back to reading yours again, or the comments, O niece (?) of Mohan Lal Grero, the owner of Lyceum International.
I’m not condemning any of the persons or Institutions named by me, but can we have more relevant articles, please. The first article, by Sahini Koralege, was easily the best. It conveyed facts, convictions, emotions, and personal commitment and values. Long. A bit difficult to read because the English was not perfect, but the language was very effective.
Here’s something written a month ago, on the SAITM issue, by one of the star products of Lyceum International: a twenty-three year old who writes very well: Uditha Devapriya:
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/that-saitm-problem-what-to-do-and-what-not-to-do/
His English is consciously stylish, so it may NOT be very easy for the average reader to understand. Perhaps you should write YOUR current version of it, or may be the students’ response to the issues that he raises.
When the next “My SAITM Story” appears, I’m going to say “Yawn”, and cut and paste this very answer – which I’d better save on my HDD. Sorry, but that’s how much of a joke this has become!
Note that I’m NOT attacking you, personally, or trying to denigrate SAITM, which I don’t know much about. This campaign of yours has become silly.
/
Patient / March 15, 2017
In Sri Lanka, we have been accustomed to listen to a lot of ‘sorry’ stories from almost every man, woman, and child especially since the Yahapalana government came to power. The newest addition is the stories of young girls studying at SAITM and they beg everyone they see to consider their plight.
While I sympathize with their plight I strongly reject their claim that they be considered medical students just because they had sat London A/L and got good marks or something that they consider ‘exceptional’. Actually they should not be considered as someone who has been duly qualified and selected to follow a medical degree. In the developed West, medical students should qualify themselves through the public education system of the country and prove themselves that they want to be physicians truly and honestly (and not as a social status that blows someone’s ego). Then, if you are not well-versed in your vernacular you will not be hired even to clean and sweep hospital toilets, let alone be a medical doctor.
However, I am strongly of the opinion that there should be a solution that brings justice to them; they have already lost or most possibly wasted their money, time, energy, pride, and finally have become ‘no one’ from nowhere.
This is where we strongly feel the absence of educated and wise members of parliament as law makers (like late Lalith Athulathmudali).
A butcher has blood on his hand; so does a surgeon. However they do two opposing jobs. When under democracy, people elect butchers to do surgeons’ job and vice versa this is what happens! I’m sure intellectuals like Prof. G.L. Peiris, Prof. Rajiv Wijesinghe, and Prof. Carlo Fonseka should be invited and appointed by the President to intervene and find a solution to this problem. They could act as a Presidential commission and make a few proposals acceptable to all parties involved.
/
Srilal / March 16, 2017
” I’m sure intellectuals like Prof. G.L. Peiris, Prof. Rajiv Wijesinghe, and Prof. Carlo Fonseka should be invited and appointed by the President to intervene and find a solution to this problem. They could act as a Presidential commission and make a few proposals acceptable to all parties involved. “
As your Pen-name suggests , you are indeed a patient ;otherwise , who would name those (GL,RW and CF) hypocrites to head any committee ? Those three opportunistic scums are well suited to run a death donation society .
/
Concerned Citizen / March 15, 2017
If SAITM has the confidence that they maintain the same standard as the local universities, why is this big fear and fuss over their “graduates” having to do the SLMC exam???? Why don’t you just sit for this exam and prove to SLMC that you are up to standard to practice medicine in Sri Lanka.
If you were to go to any other country you still have to sit for their respective medical council exams before you could practice medicine. And did you know that in some countries the license is valid only for a region/state and each time you change states/regions you have to get your license to practice medicine.
What I don’t understand is why SAITM has this fear to allow their “graduates” to sit for the SLMC exam…
/
Srilal / March 16, 2017
Concerned Citizen ,
Please get yourself updated with the real facts ! Saitm Has repeatedly stated that their students are ready to take ACT 16 exam , what is the fuss ? only reason being , SLMC is full of backward thinking selfish hypocrites !
/
Spring Koha / March 15, 2017
Ms Grero, there is much support, and sympathy, for you and your fellow students.
You are all victims of the long standing malaise that has cursed Sri Lanka.
For over forty years Education has been a political football. Politicians have shouted out from the roof tops that we must be thankful for the ‘Free Education’ that we have, but all the time squeezing the education budget to the lowest they can get away with. Even after the war ended, we preferred to keep the armed forces well funded (and growing vegetables, running hotels, and keeping parks clean) than raising the education budget.
Parents have had to make sacrifices to educate their children. International schools, and Tutory’s have flourished – so much for ‘free education’. Growing numbers of students worked hard, and the the need was for investment in quality institutions of further education. The politicians couldn’t give two hoots.
Don’t expect that to be top priority for our politicians. Oh NO! because their children will be educated abroad (as will the children of other prospering officers of our dominant armed forces).
Aspiring young people will have to keep strugging in order to succeed in this blessed land.
Until the voters of this land come to their senses and demand a better quality of politician, the present lot will go on, and the current mess will only get worse.
Ms Grero (and all your mates) good luck in your future endeavours, including the fight to get your medical college status confirmed.
/
Kalagola Abey / March 15, 2017
This input from a former Rajapakse “abitththaya” who scored free Geneva and Pattaya brothel trips (lost the wallet in Geneva too) is as bogus as this 3 foot wonder he is.
Ignore Ms Grero.
/
Viktor / March 15, 2017
Grero, Lyceum, Seems to ring a bell. No connection, I suppose with Mohan Lal Grero – State Minister of Higher Education, Owner of Lyceum or do we now know why the Ministry of Higher Education is promoting registration of SAITM students ! With daughter-in-law of Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Health also at SAITM helping to upset the balance, no wonder state University students feel they can only be heard by going on to the streets.
/
Hiran Mayadunne / March 15, 2017
Colombo telegraph : being for all fair reporting why don’t you publish some #myunistory as well… Instead of the high class posh kids from Colombo talking about their struggle with poverty, publish a story of a university student from rikillagaskada. Then you will understand what real poverty is. Find the story how these students worked while in school to make some extra money for their families. Find the story how they could not afford tuitions but yet came out to be the top of their schools…. Find the story how they survived a month from rs. 2000 given from mahapola, and yet managed to send some home. Find out the struggle they go through when they enter medical faculty and everything is in English all of a sudden…! Find out how they get through that obstacle of learning a new language within three months! Find the story how tough those exams in uni were, how many times they were shouted at infront of patients by the teachers, and how many sleepless nights they spent in a wars monitoring a dengue patient! So don’t be partial…! Most of the students who have a my SAITM story do not know what a struggle it is to enter a university and get through an exam…. That is real journalism! This is money driven financial journalism! You are promoting your target crowd, the colombo elite! Be a journalist for a change !
/
Srilal / March 16, 2017
Hiran Mayadunne ,
Hang on a minute , you’ve got your wires crossed here ! today the hot topic is about SAITM and its students . we all know how difficult it is to get to the state university medical faculties and its rigorous subsequent activities , no body dare to dispute about those issues . the issue at hand is , why do we need to have a private medical faculty in srilanka ? for that , there is no point of talking about poverty stricken students dilemmas etc here , of course those issues need to be addressed , but not as an excuse to bulldoze SAITM .
the bottom line is , we need few more private medical faculties to cater for individuals who want to purse their studies in the medical field in the foreseeable future , period ! setting up standards and entry requirements must be closely scrutinised by the UGC and other relevant bodies .
PS: Current jokers of SLMC and GMOA should not be entertained at any cost.
/
saki / March 15, 2017
very sorry dear student,
as far as medical concern, we don’t want to see our country same like India which is having politicized and corrupted PMCs
/
shifnax / March 15, 2017
we go to private hospitals fr a bettr service not bcos we hv money to burn.
we go to private collages cos smtimes we cannot get in the limited seats in govt unis.
all children r equal poor and rich.
i support freedom of education
/
kamal / March 15, 2017
you are also another fool who took a wrong decision at advanced level to do london A level even your parents are educated people. If you want to study in sri Lanka why you did not try in local A level because you knew that local exam is much harder than London exam and you even cannot enter medical faculty from Colombo district just because even you obtain 3A,S.
/
Niyaz / March 15, 2017
We welcome Medical Graduates from all types of countries but frown on our own Private Medical Graduates. If there is any area lacking in the studies stipulate that area and show how it can be done here in this country. The PMC students studying under 20 or more Professors are low quality but students of Batti and 2 other Govt MC’s with no Professors but only lecturers are high quality. The British A/L is Bankum but all high ups in all the Medical colleges are with MRCP FRCS received from Btitain.
/
Nuwan / March 15, 2017
I think CT it is about time you publish my free education story.
Again, SAITM students are now thrown into the abyss of uncertainty due to incompetency of corrupt politicians and shoddy businessman. Help must be delivered.
/
Mervyn Silva / March 15, 2017
Some one has suggested a Committee comprising Prof GL Peiris. But he is no longer an intellectual. His intellect is now not in his brain but has come to lower parts of his body.
This girl is not to be blamed but Lyceum is another crooked college where receipts are not issued for registration fees making it impossible for parents to prove the payments. Unfortunately so far no concrete action taken to regularise the international school regime for which only the jungle laws apply.
Remember that Mohan Lal Grero was one time Dy Minister of Higher Education in Sri Lanka. Cat has come out of the bag. I am sure Grero would also have played his part in arranging approval for Sitem.
Medical Council should be congratulated for protecting the quality of medical education in Sri Lanka.
/
silva / March 15, 2017
This is becoming failed strategy, I can see a lot of people who has supported this rich mentally retarded idiots are becoming irritated by repeated same posts. SAITM should hire a good institute for their public relation development. Also they can get some good students for creative writing from students studying advanced level who has some brain
/
rohantha / March 15, 2017
There are simple methods to resolve these issues. The government should take a policy decision , that all exams for medical students will be conducted by the UGC in collaboration with Dept of Examination, irrespective of State or Private Med School. Exam papers can be set by a panel of professors from all State & Private medical schools. The answer sheets will be evaluated by a panel where no student names will be indicated. Just as O/L or A/L. So basically Medical Schools will be really schools who will teach their students according to the curriculum set by the UGC/SLMC etc. Same can be applied if Practicals are concerned.
/
rohantha / March 15, 2017
“Ninety four MPs have not passed their GEC (O/L) examination while there are only 25 graduates among the 225 legislators in the present Sri Lankan Parliament, former Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. M O A de Zoysa said yesterday”
15th March 2017 Daily News
So these are the people who talks about merits of Free Education & Private Education.
/
Amarasiri / March 20, 2017
rohantha
One of those MP’s says 2/2 =0.
His name is Wimal Modawansa. He was a minister under MaRa.
/
M Raoof / March 15, 2017
Sunil. Your argument that medical students in India pass their exams by bribing lecturers/professors may be true but what makes you think it is corrupt free in Sri Lanka ? You are immature and ignorant and biased against private medical colleges. The only answer is to increase Private Medical Colleges in Sri Lanka ten fold. Parent
/
Sikuli / March 15, 2017
If you are questioned UK Exams, why our local graduate doctor get registration from various UK colleges and advertise their qualification here? MBBS (cey) MRCP ( glascow) MRCP (Edinorouh) MRCP(liverpool)
/
Guneris / March 17, 2017
You can’t have admission for a medical college in UK with London A/Ls. There are separate tests for that which are hard of course. UK A/Ls is like high school qualification. Very much easier than SL A/Ls. SL A/Ls are hard because, you get admission to universities based on that.
/