I have noticed that Sri Lanka youth
behave with a sense of entitlement that borders on the ‘not in my back yard
syndrome’. For example the Medical Students of the Colombo University are the
most vocal against the establishment of the Malabe Medical School. Now why is
that? Do they fear competition? Is that the real reason because people who have
money, but did not get the Z score from Colombo necessary to get into the Sri
Lanka State University System have been enrolled.
After all many of the Medical Faculty
lecturers moonlight at Malabe and a high proportion of students are offspring
of doctors practicing in Sri Lanka and who have passed through the SL State
Medical Schools. So it will be that many of the children of the students
demonstrating against the Malabe School, will also enter Malabe as they did not
get the grades to get into the SL State Medical Faculties.
So what is all this about? It is simply
when you are on one side, the Free system, you do not want competition. Don’t
forget they will also have to do the same exams foreign qualified doctors will
have to sit, before they are able to practice in the SL medical field,
anywhere, private or public. The beef is that it is a private for profit, BOI School.
After all it was established by Dr Neville Fernando, who sold the Central
Hospital on Horton Place to Softlogic Holdings for Billions.
The BOI concession is so that the
equipment can be imported duty free. It is possible it may never make a profit
to shareholders and like all not for profit hospitals everywhere, the surplus
will be reinvested in the Medical School and the Hospital he is building to be
attached to the school, which will have over 1,000 beds, and have facilities
better than what the demonstrating students are fighting to close down. There
are even some crazy MPs calling for it to be nationalized.
Whose property do they think it is? When
a person uses his personal wealth and builds a University, or Medical School
and conforms to the standards acceptable around the world, what right do others
have to complain. After all hitherto, hundreds of students have gone to foreign
universities, when they have not been able to get into the SL system, and
qualified there and returned to Sri Lanka after sending billions of rupees out
of Sri Lanka for their education. It is better if that money is spent in Sri
Lanka and every extra state of the art hospital built here must add to the
wealth and the health care options of the citizens of Sri Lanka.
The campaign to get a million signatures
to order the closure of Malabe does not sound fair at all, as the opposition is
from vested interests and not the public.
I use this example because it clearly
demonstrates how selfish young people’s minds are when it comes to sharing
opportunities. Another case in point comes from the Graduates in Physiotherapy.
They want the School of Physiotherapy that has been established since 1957 and
which offers a 2 year HND diploma course, to be closed down and be replaced by
them into the Health Service commanding income in excess of double of that of
the diploma holders.
OK the Diploma syllabus is outdated. So
they must update it to the 21st Century. As it is a diploma course,
the entry requirements are less stringent, and the population drawn to follow
those courses are less qualified. However they can turn out to be a much better
physiotherapist than the degree holder who may have the knowledge in science
that the diploma holder does, but the latter may actually fulfill the patients
needs better, due to his skill. Physiotherapists fail to realize that in
addition to the knowledge of the body, the art of providing physiotherapy is a
huge skill, which the diploma holder may be better at.
In the end in the private sector no
matter if the person has a qualification or not, his prestige is what gets
carried by word of mouth and get him work. I was looking for a physiotherapist
and had to check them all out and find someone suitable to fulfill my needs and
that may not necessarily be a graduate. With graduates expecting to charge a
higher fee, I have to think of my finances also. So I may opt for the lower
priced one, as that is all I can afford. I must have the flexibility of
choosing one to fit my pocket too!!
These examples clearly show that we do not
want others in the same population to get ahead as we perceive we have a stake and
want fewer entrants, that may devalue our position. I recommend young people not
to prevent others from getting ahead, in their pursuit to improve their quality
of life. There has to be space for everyone and the only way one can assure oneself
of a gain, is you can be better than your competitors. That is acceptable when prevention
is NOT.
The JVP is ideologically against Private
Education and is thus pursuing a bankrupt theory that is not practical. I am advocating
a meritocracy, where the market determines by practical ability and not by qualifications
alone, reinforced by word of mouth in pursuing ones dreams. Do not prevent others
from pursuing theirs. You just have to be the best, and not prevent someone else
from getting there. Only then will you truly value yourself and your achievements
without trampling others, and have nothing to fear as your pursuit of perfection
is not at the expense of others. You will then achieve your personal goals and can
be proud of your achievements, that have been earned fair and square and not by
default.
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