A parliamentary committee on education has recommended the replacement of the University Grants Commission and the Vocational Training Authority with a single independent National Higher Education Commission by way of legislative enactment.
The committee said in a report the proposed Commission would consist of 11 members who have achieved significant eminence with integrity in their respective fields such as academia, profession and management.
Members of the commission shall be appointed by the president with prior approval of the Constitutional Council and they shall continue to hold office for a period of three years, the report said.
The commission shall be empowered to establish sub-committees consisting of a specified number of members from and among the main body as decided by the commission based on a criterion stipulated in their rules.
These sub-committees are proposed to be established for state universities, non-state universities/institutes, vocational education universities/institutes and quality assurance.
Justice minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe said the independence of the university system would not be affected by this.
