Expanding Higher Education: Does the Open University of Sri Lanka Adequately Provide Distance Education Opportunities?

Abstract

In Sri Lanka securing a place in a higher education institute has become more and more competitive and as a solution to the demand on the government for higher education opportunities for qualified students. The Open University of Sri Lanka was built up with a goal to provide an opportunity to enter Higher education to a large number of people. The intention of this research is to find out whether the students who get admitted are really gaining a second chance for higher education through the Open University of Sri Lanka. This research has 3 goals. Study the methods of university entrance in Sri Lanka, look into the methods of admissions practiced by the Open University for distant studying and whether these admissions provide a solution to the problem of entrance to the higher education system in Sri Lanka. In this context the documented data and information are primarily used and for analyzing purposes 15 interviews are conducted. According to this information the Open University currently faces 3 problems on its admissions such as Supply being unable to meet the demand, Supply being unable to win the demand it needs and The decrease in the number of student admissions in both methods. As such the Open University is facing the following problems. The primary goals of the university are challenged. Therefore, to overcome these problems, the Open University should come up with a program to increase its student admissions through its 22 centers throughout the country.