Peradeniya students protest today

450 students in three batches not given clinical sessions

By Lakna Paranamanna
The students of the Allied Health Sciences (AHS) faculty of the Peradeniya University will conduct a Sathyagraha at the University premises today to protest against the inability of the authorities to grant proper academic facilities for the students.

Nearly 450 students belonging to three batches are currently studying at the Peradeniya AHS faculty, following five basic courses in nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratories, pharmaceuticals and radiology.

It has been three years since the AHS faculty was established in the Univeristy of Peradeniya. “Until now, none of the students have been able to attend clinical sessions,” pointed out the AHS students’ union President, Dinusha Lakmal. “Some of the students were given practical lessons just once during the very beginning of the course at the Gampola hospital,” he added.

Dinusha pointed out that the clinical studies are a vital part of the course study since their profession requires a sound knowledge of practical studies. These students are supposed to undergo their clinical studies at the Peradeniya and Kandy hospitals. But ever since the course inaugurated, none of the students had been appointed to the hospitals to do their practical work. He added that theoretical knowledge alone is not enough for the students following the AHS course to complete their degree course.

Although the students had informed the relevant authorities several times regarding the inconvenience this has caused them with regard to completing their studies, none had provided them with a suitable solution so far.