Brief history

• In December 1920, an Act was passed to establish the University of Rangoon with Rangoon College and Judson College as the constituent Colleges.
• Some RU students protested the “Rangoon University Act of 1920)” for not being overreaching.
• The first RU Students’ Strike was later celebrated as “Ah Myo Tha Aung Pwe Nay”.
• The Strike gave birth to National Schools.
• The Strike also caused the higher authorities to amend the “RU Act of 1920”.
• In 1970, the Golden Jubilee of the founding of RU was celebrated.
  A magazine was published to commemorate the event.
• In 2020, the Centennial of the founding of RU will take place.

Terminology

Selection Grade :
Those who earn 800+ Kyats
Entitled to buy 10% of salary at “Staff Shop”

Gazetted Officer :
Those who earn 350 (and CLA) or higher
450 (Base Pay) in the newer system
Promotion, deputation, transfer, and leave are published in the [Burma] Gazette

Positions and Pay scales

• The list is not exhaustive.
• The pay scales are samples for the early days.

• Chancellor : Prime Minister or his appointee
  U Nu attended Convocations and gave speeches.
• Vice-Chancellor :
  U Ko Lay (Zeyar Maung) was the Vice Chancellor of Mandalay University.

• Rector :
  Dr. Htin Aung was the first native Rector of Rangoon University.
  Dr. Hla Myint, Dr. Tha Hla and Dr. Maung Maung Kha were the early Rectors.
• Pro-Rector : introduced in the 80s
  U Ba Than Haq was the first Pro-Rector of RASU.

• Principal : in charge of a College
  U Pe Maung Tin was the first native Principal of Rangoon College.
• Dean : in charge of a Faculty
  U Ba Hli was the first native Dean of Engineering.
• Registrar :
  U Htin Si and U Yu Khin were the early Registrars of Rangoon University.

Head of Department : (e.g. at RIT in the 60s)

• Large departments are headed by a Professor
• Sub-departments are headed by a Lecturer
• Supporting departments may be headed by an Assistant Lecturer.

Professor : 1300+ Kyats

Associate Professor : introduced in the 80s
(1000 – 50 – 1200 Kyats)
for minimum, annual increment and maximum

Lecturer :
800 – 50 – 1200 Kyats (for Lecturers before the 80s)
800 – 50 – 1000 Kyats (for Lecturers in the 80s)

Assistant Lecturer : 350 (and CLA) – 25 -700 Kyats
and CLA (Cost of Living Allowance) was 89 Kyats (or so)
The “adjusted” pay was 439 Kyats (or so)
So, Assistant Lecturer : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats (after the period when CLA was dropped)

Instructor : 450 – 25 – 700 Kyats (introduced for the Institutes in the 60s)
The pay scale is the same as Assistant Lecturer.
It takes longer to become a Lecturer.

Demonstrator :
Early days : 200 (and CLA) => 297 Kyats (or so)
Later : 320 Scale
Supervises lab

Tutor :
Early days : 200 (and CLA) => 297 Kyats (or so)
Later : 320 Scale
Supervises lab and/or tutorials

Lecturing Tutor :
100 Kyats additional

Ad hoc Tutor :
Early days : 100+ Kyats

Editor’s Notes (2019) :

• For better or for worse, there have been several changes to the Education System.
  Pro-Rector and Associate Professor were introduced in the 80s.
  Some departments now have several Professors.
  There are Universities with a single Institute of College.
  There are 30+ Technological Universities.
• Due to the decline in the buying power of the money, it is difficult for most teaching staff to survive with the salaries (and occasional pay raises).
  In 2018, a Professor told me that she earned about K5 Lakhs, of which a sizable amount is spent on transportation.