• IUSF requests flexible regulations from authorities 
• Mahapola Scholarship allowance insufficient to cover costs

As the cost of living in Sri Lanka rapidly increases, the student population in the State university sector is faced with multiple challenges in reading for their degrees. With the Government having failed to pay student scholarship allowances through the Mahapola Trust Fund since April, more and more university students appear to be seeking part-time employment to cover expenses.

Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) Convenor Madushan Chandrajith revealed that due to the irregularities in the disbursement of the Mahapola student welfare reliefs, students were facing financial difficulties in continuing their university studies.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Chandrajith explained: “We have been experiencing payment irregularities with Mahapola funds and the student unions have to constantly remind the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding them. Students who passed the 2020 GCE A/Levels and gained entry to universities are yet to receive any of their Mahapola allowances. 

“It has been over one-and-a-half years now and none of them has received their student allowances. Through the Mahapola fund, students are entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000, and with the present economic situation these monies barely cover the expenses per month while they attend lectures at university.”

Chandrajith further noted that students had to spend Rs. 12,000-15,000 per month on the three meals alone, while also covering costs for transportation, health, personal hygiene, and stationery.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education last week announced that the Government had released a total of Rs. 3.1 billion from the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund to cover the allowance payments for the months of March and April.

Part-time jobs

When The Sunday Morning spoke to several university students to inquire whether they were permitted to seek part-time employment, they confirmed that they were able to do so as long as it did not affect their study time or lecture schedule.

However, many universities seem to have a deadline for students to return to their dormitories. During a recent such incident where University of Ruhuna student Dakshina Chathuranga had returned to the university after finishing his part-time job at a food stall at a musical show, the security officials had refused to allow him back to the university premises.

The IUSF Convener, commenting on this incident, noted: “The standard regulation is that students should return to their university hostels by 7.30 p.m., but at the moment this is only strictly imposed for female students. Should they obtain a late entrance pass, they are only allowed time until 10.30 p.m. However, this regulation does not apply strictly to male students. Therefore, the Ruhuna University student not being able to enter the university on that day seems to be a strange occurrence.”

Chandarjith elaborated: “Owing to the present economic status, the authorities should consider being flexible with the regulations of the university system which will allow students to engage in part-time employment and return to their dormitories after they end their work shifts.”

Importance of student employment

Addressing the matter of students engaging in part-time jobs, University of Peradeniya Vice Chancellor Prof. M.D. Lamawansa noted that the university permitted second, third, and fourth-year students to seek part-time employment as long as it did not hinder their attendance at lectures. Even a first-year student would be considered for part-time employment under special circumstances, he stated.

“We initiated a part-time employment programme within the university in October 2022 where we created 300 job opportunities. The first batch of this programme saw 150 students joining. We were able to initiate this programme with the assistance of the alumni associations as well as the Peradeniya Engineering Faculty Alumni Association. Students get the opportunity to work 15-20 hours per month and are paid an hourly rate of Rs. 350,” Prof. Lamawansa explained.

According to Prof. Lamawansa, by allowing students to engage in part-time employment, they get the opportunity to understand the work cultures, obtain the necessary skill sets to become team players, are encouraged to work in groups, and are also given an understanding of work ethics, which will help them to effectively integrate into the workforce.

All attempts to contact UGC Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge for comment on the backlog of Mahapola allowance payments as well as on whether universities would consider having flexible regulations allowing students to engage in part-time employment proved futile.