Chancellor expresses concern over National University budget cuts

Dr. Mustafa Luthufy, the Chancellor of the Maldives National University (MNU), has expressed concern over reduction of 36 million Rufiyaa from a budget of 174 million proposed. Dr. Musthafa said yesterday that after the budget cut imposed by the Ministry of Finance, “we would not be able to run the University”.

Speaking at the People’s Majlis Budget Committee, Dr. Mustafa said that the MNU initially prepared a budget amounting to 191 million Rufiyaa, and that the amount was pushed down to 174 million after the Ministry of Finance repeatedly requested.

However, after the budget was sent to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry further reduced the budget of 174 million by 36 million, and Dr. Mustafa said that if the reduction is imposed, the MNU would not be able to even give salaries to the staff. He also said the budget cut would mean cancellation of many programs to develop the University and to conduct a number of higher education programs.

The Chancellor said that MNU lecturers get a smaller salary than school teachers, and that this must change if the University is to be able to hire qualified lecturers. He said that with an insufficient budget, the University would be financially paralyzed.

Dr. Hassan Hameed, the Rector of the MNU said at the Budget Committee that even though the MNU was a statutorily established, independent institution, there was no financial independence, and that everything was totally controlled by the Ministry of Finance.