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Published on November 29, 2007

A letter from the university's lecturer council, signed by Khaisri, requested that the Naresuan University Bill be submitted before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

If the NLA gives the green light, the bill will transform Naresuan University into an autonomous higher-education institute.

"I will proceed in line with the resolution passed by the university's lecturer council at its meeting on November 23," Khaisri said. Some 16 out of 23 council members attended that meeting, she said.

According to an informed source, the meeting saw only nine board members vote to support the plan to turn the university into an autonomous institute.

Khaisri insisted yesterday the university must become autonomous, as that would entitle it to receive subsidies for the welfare of its employees, which account for 75 per cent of its total staff. The rest were civil servants, she said.

"With the subsidies, the university will have more money to improve its teaching and research."

However, an informed source said many lecturers at Naresuan would contact Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and NLA Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan in a bid to stop the bill becoming law.

Hundreds of students rallied yesterday to show their opposition to the plan.

 The Nation