Students protest tuition increases
Student representatives of Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST), led by B.Myagmardorj, President of MUST’s Student’s Union, announced at a press conference held yesterday that they will demonstrate outside the offices of the administration of MUST, speaking out against the unjustified increase in tuition fees.
“Although the Student’s Union of MUST, which represents the voices and views of students, made numerous requests and demands to the board of directors of MUST to listen to the views of its students on the matter of an increase in tuition fees, they did not want to listen,” said B.Myagmardorj.
“In this academic term, tuition fees increased by 13.9 percent and the annual rent for student dormitories increased by 70- 150 percent. But students study in lecture halls with rain water dripping through the roof, and they are equipped with laboratories and instruments only to be heard of and looked at, but never to be held and used, like museum pieces. Students live in dorm rooms covered in mold and dust, that are so freezing cold in the winter that students have to wear their coats at all times. The only change we see and feel at the university is the heavy burden of an increased tuition fee,” he added.
MUST is a well-respected state institution for multidisciplinary studies, and a multileveled center for education, training and scientific research. Among universities of technology and science in Asia, it was ranked 7th in 2002. It is also one of the largest centers for scientific and cultural exchange in Mongolia, and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs. Approximately two-thirds of formally educated Mongolians graduated from MUST. Currently, the average fee for one credit is around 44,500 MNT, and the average student takes classes adding up to 18-21 credits in a semester, which is around 801,000 MNT to 934,500 MNT. Last year, the average cost of a credit was around 35,000 MNT.
According to the Student’s Union, the careless spending of the institution’s administration, the easy solution for financing through an increase to tuition fees, and ramping up enrollment has resulted in a nearly 50 percent increase in tuition fees over the last three years and overcrowded classrooms, laboratories and other student services. Reports for this year’s enrollment state that a total of around 38,000 students are studying at the university.
“Although there are no visible changes to the quality of education, the offices of unknown higher management members are getting larger and more lavishly furnished. Unnecessary positions for personnel who have worked for over a year yet did not yield any benefits to students, are being funded by student tuition. Furthermore, classrooms for seminars and use by student clubs are being cancelled for administrative purposes that do not serve student development and education, and violate students’ rights. T.Namnan and other directors all give different explanations for the increase in tuition fees. Until today, no official reason for the increase has been given,” said the president of the Student’s Union.
“Inflation is at 8.3 percent and the construction of the new laboratory, Director T.Namnan talked about is only 10 percent complete, but no guarantee or explanation for the rise in tuition fee has been given,” he added.
B.Myagmardorj explained that because of the board of director’s unwillingness to listen to the opinions of the students, the Student’s Union will resort to protests outside the administrative section of MUST.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of MUST’s board, D.Odkhuu, announcing that the Student’s Union would be holding an official demonstration against the unjustified tuition fee increase, B.Myagmardorj stated, “You have stated through your departments that it is not necessary to listen to the views of students and respond to their requests, proposals, and demands… We cannot accept the 13 percent increase in tuition fee as there is no justifiable reason for such a high increase. Until we hold an official discussion, negotiation and understanding, the student union pledges to protest.”
When asked why the organization is taking action against the increase in tuition fees when the term has already started and students have already paid their tuition, the Student’s Union explained that they formally requested to arrange talks with university directors many times, all of which were ignored.
According to B.Myagmardorj, in accordance with the Law on Education, a student representative is supposed to be at the board meeting when discussing tuition fees, to voice student’s views. Although he was legally obliged to be involved in tuition fee setting, he was asked to leave the meeting by the directors. Student representatives on the board are supposed to be elected by students, but the current students on the board have been selected by teachers, he explained. Therefore, the tuition fees were set without the consultation of a student representative, and as a state institution, this is against the law, said the Student’s Union members.
Last week, the directors of MUST did not attend a conference with students regarding the tuition fees, which was scheduled on Thursday at 12:30. Their notification that they would not be able to attend was given to the Student’s Union at 12:00. Since the conference could not proceed, students marched to the Chairman of MUST’s Director’s Office, who was not present. Finally, the students entered the office of T.Namnan, director of Student Development and Social Partnership and stated their demands, after which Professor T.Namnan agreed to voice the demands to the board of directors and hold a resolute discussion with students on Monday, September 2. But T.Namnan was not present at the discussion on Monday, and neither were the critical directors responsible for the increased tuition. Instead, the frustrated students met subordinates reciting the same old non-explanatory statements.
Yesterday, after the press conference, the Student’s Union held a peaceful demonstration outside MUST’s Administrative Building. They stated that the protest will continue until their demands are met.
Short URL: http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=5802
“Although the Student’s Union of MUST, which represents the voices and views of students, made numerous requests and demands to the board of directors of MUST to listen to the views of its students on the matter of an increase in tuition fees, they did not want to listen,” said B.Myagmardorj.
“In this academic term, tuition fees increased by 13.9 percent and the annual rent for student dormitories increased by 70- 150 percent. But students study in lecture halls with rain water dripping through the roof, and they are equipped with laboratories and instruments only to be heard of and looked at, but never to be held and used, like museum pieces. Students live in dorm rooms covered in mold and dust, that are so freezing cold in the winter that students have to wear their coats at all times. The only change we see and feel at the university is the heavy burden of an increased tuition fee,” he added.
MUST is a well-respected state institution for multidisciplinary studies, and a multileveled center for education, training and scientific research. Among universities of technology and science in Asia, it was ranked 7th in 2002. It is also one of the largest centers for scientific and cultural exchange in Mongolia, and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs. Approximately two-thirds of formally educated Mongolians graduated from MUST. Currently, the average fee for one credit is around 44,500 MNT, and the average student takes classes adding up to 18-21 credits in a semester, which is around 801,000 MNT to 934,500 MNT. Last year, the average cost of a credit was around 35,000 MNT.
According to the Student’s Union, the careless spending of the institution’s administration, the easy solution for financing through an increase to tuition fees, and ramping up enrollment has resulted in a nearly 50 percent increase in tuition fees over the last three years and overcrowded classrooms, laboratories and other student services. Reports for this year’s enrollment state that a total of around 38,000 students are studying at the university.
“Although there are no visible changes to the quality of education, the offices of unknown higher management members are getting larger and more lavishly furnished. Unnecessary positions for personnel who have worked for over a year yet did not yield any benefits to students, are being funded by student tuition. Furthermore, classrooms for seminars and use by student clubs are being cancelled for administrative purposes that do not serve student development and education, and violate students’ rights. T.Namnan and other directors all give different explanations for the increase in tuition fees. Until today, no official reason for the increase has been given,” said the president of the Student’s Union.
“Inflation is at 8.3 percent and the construction of the new laboratory, Director T.Namnan talked about is only 10 percent complete, but no guarantee or explanation for the rise in tuition fee has been given,” he added.
B.Myagmardorj explained that because of the board of director’s unwillingness to listen to the opinions of the students, the Student’s Union will resort to protests outside the administrative section of MUST.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman of MUST’s board, D.Odkhuu, announcing that the Student’s Union would be holding an official demonstration against the unjustified tuition fee increase, B.Myagmardorj stated, “You have stated through your departments that it is not necessary to listen to the views of students and respond to their requests, proposals, and demands… We cannot accept the 13 percent increase in tuition fee as there is no justifiable reason for such a high increase. Until we hold an official discussion, negotiation and understanding, the student union pledges to protest.”
When asked why the organization is taking action against the increase in tuition fees when the term has already started and students have already paid their tuition, the Student’s Union explained that they formally requested to arrange talks with university directors many times, all of which were ignored.
According to B.Myagmardorj, in accordance with the Law on Education, a student representative is supposed to be at the board meeting when discussing tuition fees, to voice student’s views. Although he was legally obliged to be involved in tuition fee setting, he was asked to leave the meeting by the directors. Student representatives on the board are supposed to be elected by students, but the current students on the board have been selected by teachers, he explained. Therefore, the tuition fees were set without the consultation of a student representative, and as a state institution, this is against the law, said the Student’s Union members.
Last week, the directors of MUST did not attend a conference with students regarding the tuition fees, which was scheduled on Thursday at 12:30. Their notification that they would not be able to attend was given to the Student’s Union at 12:00. Since the conference could not proceed, students marched to the Chairman of MUST’s Director’s Office, who was not present. Finally, the students entered the office of T.Namnan, director of Student Development and Social Partnership and stated their demands, after which Professor T.Namnan agreed to voice the demands to the board of directors and hold a resolute discussion with students on Monday, September 2. But T.Namnan was not present at the discussion on Monday, and neither were the critical directors responsible for the increased tuition. Instead, the frustrated students met subordinates reciting the same old non-explanatory statements.
Yesterday, after the press conference, the Student’s Union held a peaceful demonstration outside MUST’s Administrative Building. They stated that the protest will continue until their demands are met.
Short URL: http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/?p=5802
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