Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development Dr. Maryam Mariya has said that ensuring the provision of quality education through legal means is more crucial than reducing the period required to convert a college into a university. She made the statement while addressing the Parliamentary Committee on National Development and Heritage regarding the Maldives Higher Education Bill.
Speaking to the committee, Minister Mariya stated that the government's policy aims to facilitate higher education and training while strengthening the administration of higher education. She said that the Higher Education Act would be amended to reduce the cost of studying abroad. The proposed amendment specifies that a college can be granted university status after 15 years of operation in the Maldives.
Additionally, Minister Mariya stressed the importance of maintaining quality when a college or institute transitions to university status within a specified timeframe. Although there is no objection to a college becoming a university within 15 years, she said that the period should focus on providing quality education.
Furthermore, Minister Mariya highlighted that transforming a good institute into a college requires high-quality teaching, strong research programmes, and the presence of educational individuals with Doctor of Philosophy (PhDs). She also underscored the necessity of consulting with universities and colleges to amend the law effectively.
Currently, the law stipulates that only institutions operating as colleges in the Maldives for at least 20 years can be registered as universities. Institutions recognised as universities by the government of a foreign country and operating for 10 years can also gain university status under the act. The proposed amendment seeks to reduce the 20-year requirement to 15 years.
Additionally, the amendment proposes changes to the provision that a university must have adequate facilities to operate according to the criteria set by the higher education ministry. It also outlines the requirements that a college must meet when applying for conversion to a university.