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The bill on the establishment of the Maldivian State University is now at the ‘Committee stage’ after being unanimously accepted at the Majlis last week. I just wanted to express very briefly, my views on this bill and how the MPs addressed the bill as a whole. I would also like to mention that these views are not just mine, but of several Maldivians, who have tried in vain to get this very important bill taken out of the Majlis and re-drafted so that it would form the foundation for the establishment of a truly visionary and successful university accepted at the international stage.
A group of Maldivians, led by Professor Hassan Ugail, discussed on this issue and we contacted several MPs before this bill was discussed in the Majlis and conveyed to them (by phone and email) some of the very basic yet important questions that the MPs need to ask amongst themselves and in the Majlis. I would like to mention just one of these important questions, which was: “would the MPs send their sons and daughters to this university for education if they have the means of sending them abroad?”.
The answer would, for sure, be a big NO!
The current state of the bill has no vision for the future. Its foundations are totally wrong. It is utterly unviable in terms of growing into a university that would become internationally acceptable, that could make us satisfied and proud of sending our children to that university.
The university should be established so that it could cater for the domestic market (which is estimated to be a maximum of about 2500 students) and the international market, with a long term vision in which in, let’s say, 15 to 20 years time the university will be a vibrant and attractive international academic institution with a strong research base. In the long run, it could thus be one of the main sources of income to the country, may be in the same scale as that from tourism! (As a matter of fact, thinking in the long term, it is really unwise that the government is quite extensively focusing on just one main industry, i.e., tourism, as the source of income to the country!).
There is no reason why the university cannot be built on such strong foundations that can reach such high targets; since they are achievable. However, it requires sincerity to the cause, sincerity to bring prosperity to the people of the country. But the reality, I’m afraid, is quite clearly the opposite of this! The MPs do not care at all about these things! (You could easily see in the Majlis what they care about; they would shout at each other, stand on the tables, and walk out of the Majlis etc when things they care about are discussed!)
The whole issue of establishing the Maldivian State University seems to be nothing but a means to gain short term political benefits (both by the ruling and opposition parties)!
Sad, in deed, is the situation!...
Sunday, 11 October 2009
The University Bill – could not be any worse!...
Posted by muiz at 13:38
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7 comments:
Being a lecturer at FMC, i feel the conditions are awful, how on earth are we into university politics.
I just want to say we don't have the capability (particularly in terms of human capacity we are still at an unacceptable level).
I doubt, majority MPs even have clue what a University practically does.
Why don't we incorporate principles of ABC.. first; before being so theoratical.
why dont you share with your readers what you guys discussed about and emailed and talked on the phone with the mps?
Brother, I thank you for your effort in making people aware of the hidden realities.
thanks for raising such an important issue. education is not adequately discussed or addressed in our society.
The Maldives National University, it is, by the way. It is, perhaps, the only bill that has been extensively discussed at all circles. In drafting the Bill, the drafting committee had studied the university acts of over tens of universities of international repute. The current bill is closely aligned the that of the Australian National University Act. Of course, the bill takes into account the realities of the Maldivian context. The major significant change is the issue of taxation of income of the university, which is omitted in the bill. Many who have studied for postgraduate awards abroad, including several PhDs, have studies the bill, article by article. It was circulated to all Government agencies and political parties, who had commented on the bill. From the initial draft to the current stage, the bill has taken over two and half years.
It is an opportune time for the bill to be in the Majlis, for if the majlis were not polarized as now, a bill of this nature would not pass. The issues that remain, and the drafting history are available on the home page of mche.edu.mv. The bill in Majlis is available at their website. The bills have been on these sites for months. Prejudice is often lack of information.
FE Lecturer
MCHE need to reach college level before we can even think of university level..
Students bring their own equipments(laptops etc)for class as the faculty is unable to cater for these, even after taking full charge from students for these facilities.
Wont be surprised if they bring in their own lecturers!! and run classes in their own homes!!
If this is the situation at FMC, the place which generates 60% of the revenue of MCHE I wonder how the other faculties' conditions would be.
FMC lecturer
FMC income is absorbed by the Government treasury for expenditures other than FMC development. In many universities, students to bring in laptops to the classes.
Fact remains fact.
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