A bill has been proposed to amend the higher education law to grant University status to colleges and higher education institutions that have operated for at least 10 years.
The law currently requires a college to operate for 20 years before changing to a University. The bill submitted to parliament on behalf of the government by Ihavandhoo MP Mohamed Shifau proposes reducing the period to 10 years.
If the institution is based overseas, the law currently has a condition requiring it to be a University recognized by the foreign country's government and registered for at least 10 years.
The new bill seeks to revise the condition and reduce the period. A foreign institution established in the Maldives that has operated for at least five years could be granted University status.
Before the government-sponsored bill was submitted, similar legislation was previously proposed by Thulusdhoo MP Ibrahim Naseem, who sought to grant University status to colleges that have operated for at least 15 years.
But the independent MP's bill was rejected by the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) majority.
Of the 87 MPs in the 19th parliament, 57 MPs belong to the MDP.
