Amendment proposes university status to 10-year-old colleges
If the amendment is passed, many of the institutions that are currently operating as colleges will have the opportunity to gain university status.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
The government has proposed to amend the Higher Education and Training Act to give university status to institutions that have been running as colleges for 10 years without interruption.
The first reading of the amendment moved by Ihavandhoo MDP MP Mohamed Shifau on behalf of the government has been scheduled for Monday's sitting.
The bill proposes to amend only one article of the Higher Education and Training Act:
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To grant university status to educational institutions that have been providing higher education for 10 years without interruption
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The bill also provides for the status of centres registered as foreign universities recognised by the government of that country and have been operating for five years
It would come into force from the date the bill is ratified.
As the law currently stands:
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University status will be given to places that have been running as colleges for 20 years
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If a branch of a foreign university operates in Maldives, it must have been registered in that country for 10 years
There are currently two government universities in the country. They are, the National University (MNU) and the Islamic University (IUM).
If the amendment is passed, many of the institutions that are currently operating as colleges will have the opportunity to gain university status.
A similar amendment was also proposed last year by Thulusdhoo Constituency Member Ibrahim Naseem. He proposed university status at the age of 15.
However, the bill was passed by a vote of 43 members without being sent to the committee for consideration.
