Abuse Potentials of the University Students

Abstract

Lack of facilities for various extra-curricular activities for all the students in the university community is one of the major reasons for student unrest in Sri Lanka. According to the investigation carried out in 1988, 20% and 80% students involved in competitive and non-competitive extra-curricular activities respectively, before they enter the university. 75% and 23% students expect jobs in the government sector and private sector respectively, only 5% prefers self-employment. Sports and aesthetic activities are most important for the well-being of the body and the mind. Involvement in different kinds of extra-curricular activities and continuation of activities that they have been doing since their childhood would probably help students 1) learn more about various challenges; 2) meet different people from prospective job markets and interests; 3) for capacity building; 4) in imagining about future prospective jobs; 5) develop the self-confident in facing the private sector and involve in self-employment. Therefore, the university education system should be reformed in a productive way to produce better graduates who can face any challenging situation in the country. Therefore, university as a learning organization should improve various activities to develop active participation of students in developing their skills in addition to academic activities. Thus, ongoing research should be carried out encompassing extra- curricular activities of the students in order to enhance active participation in the university environment.