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This column is for self study or classroom use and gives guided help with reading the wide variety of writing styles and topics that appear as feature articles in the Bangkok Post. The lessons include background information, skill building practice and vocabulary explanations. December 19, 2006   Angry students INTRODUCTION

Those of you who follow developments in Thai education will know that this is not a new story at all. Plans to make Thai universities autonomous began quite a number of years ago, and it is a bit of a surprise that it is still an issue today. Having autonomy, supporters say, would give universities much more control over their own affairs, allowing them to hire (and fire) faculty realistically and giving them much greater flexibility in the courses they offer. A good example is Suranaree University of Technology in Nakhon Ratchasima, which has been autonomous since it was established in 1990. During my Learning Post days, I spent a full day there to see how the university was faring. Note that autonomous does not mean private. The state universities continue to receive government funding although it is likely to be less than present levels. Today's story gives you a glimpse of the students' side of the story. What concerns them most? Is it the quality of education they are likely to receive or something else? autonomous (of an organisation, country or group) governing or controlling itself rather than being controlled by someone or something else fire to remove someone from a job flexibility having the ability to change easily and adapt to different conditions and circumstances faring doing glimpse a brief look

OUR STORY FROM THE BANGKOK POST

Students call for referendum on autonomy plan Story and photos by PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN SIRIKUL BUNNAG Students burn an effigy of Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn in a protest against the government's plan to let public universities leave the state system. The protest, which took place outside parliament, was attended by about 200 students from several state-run universities.— SAROT MEKSOPHAWANNAKUL 'Angry students burnt an effigy of Education Minister Wijit Srisa-arn yesterday to protest the government's move to turn state universities into autonomous institutions. They demanded a public referendum on the issue be held to gauge views from members of universities and taxpayers. About 200 students from several public universities, including Chulalongkorn, Kasetsart and Burapha, gathered in front of the parliament building to protest the draft bill to let public universities leave the state system. The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will deliberate the bill. The irate students submitted a letter protesting the bill to NLA president Meechai Ruchupan via the assembly's secretary-general Suvimol Phumsingharaj. Thaweeporn Khummetha, a first-year student of Chulalongkorn University, called for a halt to the process to free public universities from the bureaucratic system pending a public referendum. Natthasit Rakkiartwong, a second-year student also of Chulalongkorn University, said the government's move was illegitimate, as it had not received consent from his university's members. Such a change would adversely affect students, as tuition fees would increase by one-and-a-half times after the university left the system, he said. Pakhinai Chomsinsapman, of Burapha University, said if public universities broke free from the state, students would be forced to shoulder heavy financial burdens. He criticised university executives for pushing Burapha University to leave the system, accusing them of having ulterior motives since it would enable them to boost their salaries. Earlier, a group of Chulalongkorn students gathered at the university at around 9 am to urge students from all faculties to stop attending classes to protest the move. The education minister, however, said the move would not open loopholes for universities to freely increase tuition fees or become involved in graft. effigy a crude representation of someone disliked, used for purposes of ridicule referendum an occasion when all the people of a country can vote on an important issue gauge to make a judgment about deliberate to consider very carefully before making a decision irate very angry via through pending awaiting illegitimate not allowed by law or a particular set of rules consent permission or agreement to do something adversely negatively shoulder to accept responsibility for something burdens duties or responsibilities that cause worry, difficulty or hard work ulterior motives hidden reasons loopholes a means or opportunity of evading a rule or law graft corruption Read our other instant lesson here. Return to our home page. | ? The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. All rights reserved 2006 | Last modified: December 15, 2006