An organisational watchdog will be established to monitor the development of higher education institutions and reduce the potential for corruption in the system, said the chairman of a presidential think-tank on August 4.
U ThanOo, chairman of the Education Promotion Implementation Committee spoke to participants at a seminar held to discuss the draft higher education bill at the Diamond Jubilee Hall, Yangon University.
He told attendees that the move to create the ‘Negotiation Committee for Higher Education’was necessary now that universities have the freedom to self-administrate.
"As we open up these freedoms to the universities and educational institutes, this committee shall be formed to control and manage their operations. These freedoms do not mean they can act entirely as they wish, they must still follow certain guidelines,” said U ThanOo.
Chapter five of the draft bill covers provision for educational freedoms; including providing universities with the autonomy to form new departments, hire lecturers and make other independent choices over the allocation of funding.
He added that the Negotiation Committee will also share advice on the development of examination formats and will have the power to grant or revoke licences for local and international schools.
"The freedom for universities to self-administer is only for show,” said Dr Zaw Min, rector of the Yangon Institute of Education after the seminar, “nothing special will happen.”
KoNannLwin, secretary of Dagon University Students' Union told Mizzima that if the authorities really wanted to provide universities with the freedom to operate then it would be unnecessary to establish such a committee.
