Burapa, Mahidol autonomy bills passed
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) yesterday accepted two bills submitted by two state universities seeking autonomy.
During yesterday's session, Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn, who has pushed for the idea of autonomy, said the transformation would ensure all the universities' academic value, curriculum competency and tuition fees, would remain unchanged.The bills were submitted by Burapa and Mahidol Universities, who said they were prepared to become independent from the bureaucracy. The NLA appointed two 25-member panels to scrutinise the bill within the next seven days. NLA member Paisal Phuetmongkhol said the idea would result in a huge fiscal burden for the authorities. After a lengthy discussion, the NLA passed the bill by Burapa University with a 129-8 vote, and the other bill by Mahidol University by 129-9. A number of Burapa University students, opposed to the move, earlier submitted a petition to His Majesty the King requesting the university not be scrutinised by the NLA. - The Nation
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