An analysis of problems relating to leadership skills and positive attitudes among undergraduates in Sri Lanka: security concerns

Abstract

The large majority of students who enter the university system are equipped only with theoretical knowledge of the subjects they intend to pursue further. Their lack of leadership qualities and positive attitudes has often been reflected in their attitudes displayed through their activities on various occasions. These lapses in students create a favourable environment for the growth of extremist political fractions rooted within the university system for many decades, and allows for misuse for narrow political gains, and to create instability and chaos in the university system and the country at large. The Higher Education Ministry has launched a leadership programme for the potential university students prior to their entry into the universities. The objective of the programme is to equip university students with leadership, skills and positive attitudes necessary to be good and productive citizens of Sri Lanka. The selection of the Armed Forces to conduct this programme was for the reason that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces had proved to be the most disciplined and result-oriented organization in Sri Lanka with vast experience in leadership and maintenance of discipline in all forms of its activities. In this backdrop, students engaged in students’ protests and unrests in the university system. This has serious security concerns within the university system as well as society at large. It is observed that a small element within the university system creates such situations and majority succumb to pressure from this small element. Frequent interruption of university system has a security dimension where group mobilization could be possible. This could be detrimental to the national security of the country. This paper attempts to analyse the security concerns by analyzing the problems relating to leadership skills and positive attitudes among undergraduates in Sri Lanka.