Despite an over 90 percent literacy rate, Sri Lanka ironically enough, still ranks among the lowest in the world in terms of access to higher education.rn
rnThough 200,000 people sit the A/L exam every year, only about 90,000 qualify and just two-percent actually enter the hallowed halls of learning.rn
rnThis is as against regional average of eight percent, 34 percent in Singapore and 20 percent in Thailand.rn
rnThe lack of available seats in the university, has meant that those left out of the system enrol at mushrooming institutes offering diplomas in IT, business and accountancy, of varying quality.rn
rnThe Distance Education Modernisation Project launched Friday, expands the existing Open University network and rolls out new ones on district level. rn
rnldblquote We envisage the 26 OUSL centres to become centres of learning and we are looking at a further 100 other centres in other parts of the country providing access to higher education of certain quality dblquote , Project Director, N