Chulalongkorn University (CU) Community yesterday made known its formal opposition to a plan to turn state universities into autonomous institutes.

A group of around 80 activists including the CU Community led by political science students, lecturers and officials who joined with representatives from other state universities including Burapha and Ramkhamhaeng universities, said the government should abolish the policy because it was unclear.

According to their statement, turning state universities into autonomous agencies would affect poor students, as it would lead to tuition fees being raised and they would struggle to maintain educational equality.

It also demanded that Khunying Suchada Kiranandana choose between being CU rector or a member of the National Assembly for reasons of transparency.

Assoc Prof Jai Ungpakorn, a political science professor at CU, said to turn state universities into autonomous institutes was like bringing them onto the open market. Without support by the state, each university would have to earn extra funds by raising fees and parents would shoulder the burden.

"This interim government did not come from an election, so it does not have the right to decide this important issue," Jai said.

Besides, the autonomy scheme would impact directly on officials' welfare and stability. For example, the reward and punishment system would depend on the decisions of the university executives.

Head of CU's political activist students Kengkij Kitirianglarp said the community would seek co-operation from other universities such as Khon Kaen, Kasetsart and Ramkham-haeng and gather signatures of people who disagree with the plan.

"If the scheme isn't stopped we will rally at Government House," he said.

A lecturer at Burapha University (BU), Tawatchai Iampaivote said without a checking system by the government, the autonomous university scheme might worsen corruption in state universities.

Because of more income from increased tuition fees, he said BU executives had planned to raise their salaries to at least Bt250,000.

Ninnete Surarat

The Nation