Universities and Institutes

by Hla Min

Updated : Aug 2025

Brief history

• The RU Act of 1920 was passed on December 1, 1920 to establish the University of Rangoon with Rangoon College and Judson College as the constituent Colleges. There were only three Faculties: Science, Arts and Law
• On December 5, 1920, some RU students staged a strike to protest the 1920 RU Act 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 and “Ah Myotha Kaw Leik (National College)”. The Strike also caused the higher authorities to amend the “RU Act of 1920”.
• In 1924, some Faculties (Engineering, Forestry, Social Science and Medicine) were added.

Celebrations

• Due to the war, the RU Silver Jubilee could not be celebrated in 1945. It was celebrated in the 1950s.

• In 1970, the Golden Jubilee of the founding of RU was celebrated. A magazine was published to commemorate the event.
• In Deember 2019, the pre-Celebration for the RU Centennial took place. In 2020, due to Covid, the RU Centennial was celebrated with restrictions.

Positions and Pay Scales

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

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

Selection Grade

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

Administrators

• Chancellor : Prime Minister or his appointee; U Nu attended Convocations and gave speeches.
• Vice-Chancellor : Chief Justice U Bo Gyi served for two terms at Rangoon University. 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, U Kar 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 :

• 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.