By Sajeeda Darwes –
Sajeeda Darwes
I studied at Girls High School Kandy and currently I’m a 4th year medical student at SAITM. I passed my G.C.E Ordinary level exam with 10 A’s. I faced my Advanced Level examination in 2011 from Kandy district and I got an A pass for Chemistry and 2 B passes for Biology and Physics. I missed entry to state medical faculty by 3 ranks (by 0.03 z score) Although my Z score was good enough to enter to a state medical faculty in many other districts, unfortunately, it was not from Kandy district. We underwent several issues regarding complications in the Z-Score that year, as both old and new syllabus students faced the examination. It took more than a year for this issue to be settled and we were given another separate z score. By the time the z score issue was sorted, there wasn’t enough time for me to get prepared for another attempt, as our results came in December 2011 but the z score problem was settled in only by January 2013. That year the intake from Kandy district was less in comparison to previous years even though a court order was given to increase the intake.
My mother saw the passion that I had towards pursuing a career in medicine, because when my father passed away, it was my ultimate purpose to make my father’s dream a reality; which was to see me as a Doctor. After seeing that I had worked so hard, and yet was deprived entry into a state university due to the district quota system she wanted to somehow make that dream a reality.
Its not easy for me being a girl, to go abroad and study also with high expenses. Around this time I heard about SAITM which is approved by University Grants Commission and the ministry of higher education. Neville Fernando teaching hospital was being built by that time. I also consulted a few Doctors and Lecturers regarding SAITM. I talked with some of my friends who were studying abroad and at SAITM. I decided to go ahead with SAITM. I considered it a privilege to be given the opportunity to study in my own country.
I applied for SAITM and I underwent two interviews there, one was by the university and the other one was by University Grant commisson and I also faced the examination held by SAITM in order to grant scholarships to deserving students. I passed that exam which comprised of 4 separate papers comprising of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and I.Q. Which was set in English medium. Even though I had done my studies in Sinhala medium I managed to score well. Over the years I had acquired various certificates for Provincial level and district level competitions including Art, Essay and Oratory,etc.. Considering both my academic and extra curricular activities and my current situation I was offered a half scholarship and I started my medical education at SAITM.
Here at SAITM, we are taught by professors and consultants who are also lectures/or used to lecture at state universities. We are really proud to have the opportunity to be guided under such lecturers. We also undergo Final examinations for each subjects which includes M.C.Q,S.E.Q,OSCE and Viva components.
We undergo clinical training not only at Neville Fernando teaching hospital ,but also at some private hospitals in Colombo district in order ensure a very good clinical exposure and experience. Our senior batches attend the forensic appointment and psychiatry attachment at the Awissawella base hospital and also the Kaduwela M.O.H area in order to complete our community medicine appointment. At the end of each major appointment we undergo an end appoinment viva which is conducted by consultants. We also work really hard as we fully understand the responsibility we have to undertake in the future. Because we too know the importance of human life.
And we too aspire to be quality doctors who are serving this nation.
Contrary to popular belief we are not offered the degree purely for money. We also work very hard to get through our exams and it is not something we take lightly.
It is not a secret that in certain foreign universities students are not allowed to interact with patients and thus their clinical exposure is minimal. Yet they are recognized by the SLMC. But here we are given the opportunity to interact with patients. In fact I have interacted with patients in all 3 languages.
Being a Doctor is not an easy task.
Even the foreign graduates are allowed to do their clinical training at government hospitals. So why not allow us to do our clinical appoinments at government hospitals too. We are following the same syllabus as state medical faculty students. Our Final MBBS exams are held under the scrutiny of an excellent panel of examiners including our own faculty professors and external examiners from state universities. If you all are still not happy with our request, then let us sit for a Standardized unbiased exam so that we can prove to you that we are just as capable as any other medical student. In my case I had to pursue my higher studies in the private sector because of the issue created by the z score. I haven’t done any injustice to anyone by joining SAITM. I wanted to follow my passion in Medicine. Please give a chance to students who miss out on their dream of becoming a doctor by a few marks and to study and serve the country
#MySAITMStory #මගේSAITMකතාව
Shrikharan / March 16, 2017
Sajeeda Darwes
I have written a lot related to the bad effects of district basis of admission, and unfairness to those who were educated in good schools. Isn’t it legitimate for one to attend good school if you can afford it and if so why should one be punished for it to have to obtain a punitively high grade / aggregate, where only a genius could achieve it. District basis was introduced for sometime now and we could visibly see the standards deteriorate in the students capacity compared to when admission was solely on all island merit. I know quite well many students in the state medical faculty cannot speak properly in good English. They do not have any manners, and behave like street vendors.
One form the rural district could easily enter to medical faculty with basic results such as 3 passes when a student from a district such as Colombo or Kandy has to obtain at least 2As and I note you too have obtained excellent results and with that performance if you cannot enter medical faculty especially when students with simple passes are selected then there is something seriously wrong!
LET ME ASK YOU A PERSONAL QUESTION, . SUPPOSE YOU WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SELECTED WITH YOUR RESULTS TO THE STATE MEDICAL FACULTY, WOULD YOU BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF SAITM OR ELSE WOULD HAVE JOINED WITH OTHERS TO VOW FOR ITS CLOSURE? I DID ASK YOU AN EMBARRASSING QUESTION. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION HONESTLY. ,
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Jayasekara / March 18, 2017
does good A/L results make good doctors
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Amarasiri / March 19, 2017
Jayasekara
“does good A/L results make good doctors”
The son rises from the East and sets in the West. Does it mean that the Sun goes around the Earth?
Define good Doctor?
The problem with the A/: results which takes the aggregate of Physics, Chemistry and Biology is that, which it measures the subject matter knowledge and competence, it does not entirely capture intelligence in a changing world. There should be another subject or test for intelligence, and he results should take equal importance.
Physics has a high intelligence component, Chemistry less, with more memorization, and biology has most memorization components. So, a student who scores highest marks in biology will be on equal par with a student who scores highest in Physics, assuming that both scored similarly in the other two subjects.
In order to level the students overall capabilities, a fourth subject test, on Intelligence or IQ, should be made compulsory, and the scores to be added to the other three subjects.This will add a critical thinking skills test component to the selection of candidates.
Years ago, the IQ ‘s of the Peradeniya University undergraduates from different faculties were taken . The average IQ Ranking of the undergraduates, were as follows: (Does anybody know or have access to the actual test results?)
1. Science Faculty- Physical sciences
2. Engineering Faculty
3. Medical Faculty, Dental Faculty/Agriculture? Science-Biological ( Botany, Zoology)
4. Arts Faculty, Different Departments.
The question to ask is that are the best and most intelligent students selected for the various faculties based on their desires, or is it selection by root memory.
Another issue is that, the 1st try, 2nd try and 3rd try students are treated equally. No normalization or corrections are made for the fact that the students took, 2, 3 or 4 years to qualify. So, this skews the selection.
In addition, the district selection criteria, further skews the results.
This points out to the need for a different selection criteria, and perhaps some of these intelligent students who were left out, have a chance to study at end at SAITM, or go abroad at greater expense.
It is further complicated by the Cast-ism and Hegemony of GMOA and SLMC. Furthermore, the idiotic politicians have made it worse.
Welcome to the land, where the average IQ is 79.
National IQ Scores – Country Rankings
http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html
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Edu / March 19, 2017
Ask it from state students even..
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rcl / March 16, 2017
Its amazing to see how dumb people would think her story is the story of all of saitm. She is one of the few students in saitm with good a level results while ugc statistics have shown 93% have less than 3b. Best solution is to nationalise saitm and make sure all students with 2a and b get medicine. Not just ones with 3s and money. If you think that saitm is filled with students with 2a and b , get a reality check.
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Iqbal / March 17, 2017
What % have got 2A’s and a B reading for medicine in the state Univercities?
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Ashoka / March 16, 2017
All the doctors passing out from a medical college must have the recognition of the medical council of the country where they are trained.SAITM too need it. The issue is there is no reason to refuse registration of SAITM students and the refusal is not legal. The SLMC has two standards. One for KDU, the other for SAITM. This discrepancy created a lot of trouble in the country. The extremists took advantage of it and using it for their benefits.
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Shrikharan / March 16, 2017
Ashoka
“The SLMC has two standards. One for KDU, the other for SAITM. This discrepancy created a lot of trouble in the country.”
Correct!
what’s good for the goose is good for the gander
So SAITM should stay and stand tall!
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Shreeni / March 16, 2017
Infact we came to know that tbere are such talented students ag Saitm by these articles.Good luck for you all
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VIRAJ / March 16, 2017
MR.SHRIKHARAN ,your comment reveals that you are against Saitm and you dont know how KDU got approval misusing politics.
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Shrikharan / March 17, 2017
VIRAJ
“you are against Saitm”
How did you come to that conclusion. You must be drunk. I spoke all in favour of SAITM!
I have said elsewhere “So SAITM should stay and stand tall! ” Read many of my comments. Either you are weak in English or you were drunk when you read.
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Buddhika / March 16, 2017
Le GIFTED STUDENTS like her to continue their studies keeping aside your personal conflicts with Private education.What they ask is allowing them to governmnent hospitals.If you all saying clinical exposure not enough then let them training.
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Buddhika / March 16, 2017
Let GIFTED STUDENTS like HER to continue their studies keeping aside your personal conflicts with Private education.What they ask is allowing them to governmnent hospitals.If you all saying clinical exposure not enough then let them training.
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Observer / March 16, 2017
Ok.! Enough.! Read top 6’s stories.! Well done.! You have made your point.!
Now want to read bottom 6’s stories. To prove a fact.! ?
CT: Please do justice by publishing bottom 6’s stories.!
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VIRAJ / March 16, 2017
MR.SHRIKHARAN what matter is z score not the result.You must know it first..
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Deepthi / March 16, 2017
Amazing achivements and great results.Its not an easy task to get such good results with all other extra curricular activities.proud of you daughter.Even the your writing skills show How TALENTED you are..
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Balan / March 16, 2017
I feel sorry for you as you have to study with a lot of others who haven’t even passed their O/L well. If you were in a state Uni, U’d have got a chance to learn from better peers.
Its a unfortunate that you are stuck in resourceless, barren and pompous school which convinces you that you get a quality education. Look around and see. Go to the nearest government hospital and observe what you had missed. You’d missed the most important aspect of your education, the learning from patients. This is a crime that SAITM had done to you.
You still have time and a way out. fight for better standards. So you would be a doctor as you have the potential.
Good luck. And tell your PR company that it is already exposed and this is a great injustice to you all.
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Truth / March 16, 2017
A well written story debunking claims that unqualified students were admitted by SAITM and that the academic standards are poor. It is the policy of both the present government as well as the previous government to promote Sri Lanka as a centre of learning. The government must persuade the Supreme Court to give high priority to the Appeal by the SLMC, to resolve the crisis without delay. The worst case is the proposal by MP Wimal Wirawansa to treat SLMC MBBS on par with foreign MBBS degrees.
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Edu / March 17, 2017
Miss Sajeeda ,no matter what others say.you have a bright future..
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Nirmala / March 17, 2017
Most of the people were asking Local AL good results when previous articles published.This is a best article with all facts.
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Harini / March 17, 2017
MR.Shrikaran. I think you are not yet updated well. It might be true that some students face an injustice because of distric quota system. But please check the.z score cut off of the previous years. Nobody with 3S passes would have got through medical faculty.
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kulan / March 17, 2017
This is a another point
Even with the free education system private tutions is a must to enter varsity in Sri Lanka
Parents spend alot on fees to tutories. Schools do not cater much in training students entering the university.
Parents spend for a A/L student like spending for a private university
The free education or even the free medical system in Sri Lanka has many pit falls.
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ANNE / March 17, 2017
What we have to do is searching good solution forvthis problem instead of dragging the how they openedvthe university.otherwiseb the abilities of such brilliant students is wasted.Any how you are in safe sidebas you have got very good results.
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DR.Kushan / March 17, 2017
You have proven your talents.They should answer for these.Even I know very well about that 2011 z score problem.It was such a huge problem.all those are swept under carpet.you could have gone to a state medical faculty easily if that problem was not there..
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Wimal Ranagala / March 17, 2017
[Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words.Please read our Comments Policy for further details.
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Neutral / March 17, 2017
However much a good result u have, u have not inquired into the stance of the regulatory body of medicine in SL (SLMC) and hence you have lost 4years to this fraudulent company. Its ur fault u ddnt check this. And therefore it is by ur own will that u got into this mess. Please dont try to get sympathy from the general public. Also even though ur results are good, standard of medical education cannot be guaranteed. Goodluck
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Deepthi / March 17, 2017
please take into your consideration that SLMC approval is provided after a university completed 5years.Even Rajarata ,KDU didny have approval..
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Neutral / March 19, 2017
then granting of SLMC recognition now is SLMC’s decision and their decision only. why are you people going to courts to get approval? seems like you guys want to override the authority of the SLMC. shame.
and before saying SLMC is a mafia, i can tell you they are not against private graduates and the competition (if any) they are going to pose since they too accept foreign graduates.
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Tharanga / March 20, 2017
Its not a secret that most of universities which are approved by SKMC are nit up to standatd.In some foreign universities they dont allow students tp touch the patient and students struggle due to language problems.ERPM exam is a good way tp earn money for SLMC.they give pvt tution classes for ERPM.at exam they pass the students who came to their classes..
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Deepthi / March 21, 2017
We usually go to take legal action for justice.Same thing happened to SAITM..
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Prof.Weerasinghe / March 17, 2017
The people who jealous will be against Privatisation. Everyone hv freedom to study.
Gov uni doctors not providing services with free of charge to society.
If Gov university Doctor can work in Pvt hospital for consultation, why Pvt university is not good?
They also make a strick with people life. Now how come social intrest?
Every threatened can change as opportunity. Go forward.
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Natasha / March 18, 2017
A very good article which gives answers for many baseless alligations.WONDERFUL..
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Sri Lankan / March 18, 2017
You will be a very good Doctor in future.my advanced wishes..
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Nirmalan Ratnam / March 18, 2017
The private medical college debate has been there for more than 3 decades now. I was in my A levels when NCMC and then NLMC started and definitely it was a good option for those who missed the medical entrance by a few marks. On the other hand whether this would be only for those who fell into this category or will it also include the rich and influential who did not get good grades and never would have gotten into any university course in SL is the question that haunts the concerned. It is true that Srilankans studying abroad come back and work but not without ACT 16. Even those who studied in UK or Australia need to sit for this but the cost involved prevents everyone from going but having this as an argument to open the door to for private medical education poses the risk of reputation of the Srilankan medical degree. In India recently they had to cancel the license of many medical graduates due to fraudulent practices. Let us face it Sri Lanka is not corruption free. One option is to do what the US and Australia do. They have a graduate entry pathway. So any student who has a primary degree sits for an entry exam and interview and is chosen to do a graduate medicine program which enables them to get a medical degree. The Government can conduct this exam or the medical board can do this. This could be open to the private medical colleges as this would be regulated by the system.
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Abdul / March 18, 2017
MashaAllah may Allah bless you and fulfil your dads dream be a good & kind doctor….
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Dhanushka Rajasinghe / March 18, 2017
This proves you have really good results but they still couldnt take.It does not matter.You have worked so hard. Your hard work will pay off
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J.L Fernando / March 18, 2017
Act 16 exam is for foreign graduates since they are not exposed to some diseases common in SL overthere.community medicine also differes from country to country.since SAITM students follow the SL syllabus no need to write an exam.Come out of box and help to enhance their standard without just corrupting takwnted students future.This is pure Jelous in medical field.Specially these state students take everything for granted as they are studying free.Even they protested asking cut off school fees even.we should actually thank SL education system for this free education ,not begging everything for free.
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Carmen / March 18, 2017
SAITM case clearly shows the jealousness of the people, specially so called bright students who got admission to state universities. ( not all of them) Very sad situation.
sinhalen kivvoth, eerisiyaawa, kuhaka kama, duppath mano bhavaya.
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Eranda / March 18, 2017
So true..
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senaka / March 18, 2017
We do not have enough universities to cater to our growing population. Therefore the places left for entry to universities is limited and bright students suffer. So much so that due to higher grades needed to be on the top some people loose their minds too. We have to address this situation. The rich can afford to go aboard by doing the London or think even our A/L which is well recognized can get them places there. A good brain drain happens and the country looses. Foreign unis are needed if gov cannot meet the demand. Even if a ladder is kept in the hell where Sinhalese are no one can climb it cause our people will pull them down. Sad state of affairs.
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PIERIS / March 19, 2017
Atleast there should be one private medical faculty in SL.its the responsibility of government and SLMC to maintain the quality if they really worry about patients.What they worry is about Car permits and High schools for their children.Now they accuse these children..so pathetic.
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