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Uni VCs urge  new strategy  against ragging

14 Oct 2022

Raising concerns over the recent incidents of ragging and student indiscipline that have occurred with the resumption of onsite academic activities in State universities, including cyber-ragging related incidents, the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Directors (CVCD) stated that a comprehensive strategy planned by universities, the law enforcement authorities, political parties, and the media, with the support of civil society, is needed for the prevention and elimination of ragging. In a special statement, the CVCD, while categorically condemning all forms of ragging in educational institutions, emphasised that none of the Vice Chancellors condone or support ragging, or act to protect perpetrators of such incidents. “The CVCD believes that ragging is a complex issue that needs much intervention for it to be eliminated. It must be recognised that it is carried out in a novel, sophisticated manner, using technology, with the collective power of the student groups backed by certain political elements. It uses a network of individuals and starts even before the students enter the universities and continues for a long period thereafter. The CVCD has also noted the introduction of cyber-ragging, in addition to physical, mental, or sexual forms,” the CVCD added. The statement further read that there should be a strong movement against ragging in the civil society in order to encourage new entrants to universities, and their parents, to stand up against organised groups of student perpetrators motivated by political intentions. “The universities are faced with multiple issues in their efforts to eliminate ragging. These include the lack of legitimate complaints with evidence or clues for the identification of the perpetrators, the lack of a robust system for the protection of victims and witnesses, the inaction of the law enforcement authorities to fully implement the provisions of the Prohibition Of Ragging And Other Forms Of Violence In Educational Institutions Act, No. 20 of 1998, and the slowness of the judicial and disciplinary procedures. In many instances, the dissemination of one-sided information obtained from highly vocal student movements impacts the university administrations in taking action against the student perpetrators of ragging.” Noting that it is common for protests to be staged in front of the University Grants Commission or the Ministry of Education to pressurise authorities to withdraw or mitigate punishments that have been handed to perpetrators of ragging related incidents after following the due process, the CVCD stated that there have been instances where instead of supporting the VCs and University authorities in taking stern actions against ragging and other acts of student indiscipline and violence, undue influences have brought to bear by external forces on the legal and disciplinary processes.  “This aims to protect perpetrators with scant regard for the rights of the victims and the harm caused to them. The CVCD views with grave concern the fact that perpetrators abuse provisions in the legal system and exploit the facility of taking their complaints to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka. This occasionally escalates to the severe harassment of VCs and university authorities. The recent reduction or near elimination of ragging is the result of active intervention by university authorities led by the VCs, who risked their lives and positions,” the statement concluded. The statement had been issued by a total of 25 VCs and Directors of State Universities including those from Kelaniya, Colombo, Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Moratuwa, Ruhuna, Jaffna, the Open University, Rajarata, Uva Wellassa, the Eastern University, the South Eastern University, Sabaragamuwa, and Wayamba. Against the backdrop of several parties calling for the elimination of ragging in universities and higher education institutions, clashes and issues related to ragging were recently reported in several universities and higher education Institutions such as the universities of Peradeniya, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kelaniya, Ruhuna, the Open University, and the Institute of Technology of the University of Moratuwa, and the Tower Hall Drama School under the Tower Hall Theatre Foundation. The incidents related to ragging in universities and education institutions were also discussed in Parliament recently. During the discussion, several MPs, including Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha, State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan, and State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon pointed out that due to incidents related to ragging in universities, students are being subjected to great injustice and that therefore, urgent measures should be taken to prevent such incidents from happening.  


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