Quantity up, not quality

Two more pvt universities get nod, taking number to 99

Even though the number of private universities in the country keeps increasing every year, most of them cannot offer quality education to students due to paucity of qualified teachers, vice-chancellors (VCs), and other staff members. Sources say that many of these universities are plagued by various irregularities like conflicts within the Board of Trustees, reluctance to move to permanent campuses, absence of legal appointment of VCs, pro-VCs and treasurers by the President, classes being held by junior teachers or part-time teachers and firing teachers without giving them a chance to defend themselves.

Experts say the government should first assess the necessity of such private universities before giving them permission to operate in the education sector.

It has also been alleged that some of these universities ignore the government directives and run their institutions flouting the Private University Act, 2010, thus compromising the quality of education. Even though the number of private universities keeps increasing every year, the government is yet to enforce a strong supervision mechanism to take action for breaching the laws.

Education ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC) sources say sometimes action cannot be taken action against some private universities for violating the laws as their authorities happen to be quite influential. Even when the government wants to take action for the alleged irregularities of the universities concerned, their authorities obtain a stay order from the court and carry on their activities, the sources note.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division of the education ministry on Tuesday gave temporary permission to two more private universities to start their activities. The universities are: the Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah University in Khulna and the Ahsania Mission University of Science and Technology in Rajshahi.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission president Kazi Rafiqul Alam has set up these universities.

He has also set up the Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology.

Another new private university, the ZNRF University of Management Sciences, in Gulshan of the capital also got temporary permission to start its activities on January 28. Dr M Jubaidur Rahman is the founder of the university.

The number of private universities, including the two new ones, now stands at 99 in Bangladesh.

There are 40 public universities under the UGC across the country.

As per the 43rd annual report of the UGC, 2016, there were 2,64,084 students in 34 public universities, while the number of teachers was 13,072. On the other hand, the number of students in 86 private universities were 3,37,157, while the number of teachers was 15,571.

The report also found that the number of part-time teachers was 5,108 and the number of full-time teachers was 10,463. It said the number part-time teachers holding a Ph.D degree was more compared to full-time teachers. A recent letter by the UGC to education ministry said that there are 54 private universities in Dhaka alone, nine in Chittagong, four in Sylhet, three in  Narayanganj, Comilla, two each in Rajshahi, Natore, Khulna and Barisal, one each in Manikganj, Faridpur, Gazipur, Kishoreganj, Jamalpur, Shariatpur, Cox’s Bazar, Feni, Bogra, Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia and Saidpur.

Speaking about private universities, the letter said only two universities—Ahsanullah University and East West University—have received permanent certificates, while the City University has got the permanent certificate subject to certain conditions.

The letter has also mentioned that the development activities of some of these universities are being hampered as their Board of Trustees (BOT) members are engaged in wrangling over various issues.

Moreover, the normal activities of some universities have slowed down due to differences in opinion between the BOT members and vice-chancellors (VC), pro-VCs and treasurers.

According to the letter, of these universities, 60 have VCs, 21 have pro-VCs and 43 have treasurers. But 23 universities do not have any VC, pro-VC or treasurer.

Many of the private universities are not recruiting teachers. There have been allegations that some of them are involved in the certificate business.

Some of these universities have formed illegal sub-committees instead of legal committees in accordance with the Private University Act, 2010.

UGC sources say the universities running illegal sub-committees are just ignoring them and the education ministry.

The letter also said some universities are running academic activities without the UGC’s permission or running programmes after obtaining a stay order from the court.

Only 29 universities have updated audit reports, while most BOT members of such universities are allegedly involved in embezzlement. Even the offspring of freedom fighters, poor and meritorious students are not getting the scope to study free of cost. As per law, 6 per cent of such students should get the opportunity to study.

The library and laboratory conditions of most of these universities are not satisfactory. Around 27 universities did not spend anything for research work in 2017.

The letter also noted that most private universities are reluctant to run academic activities on their permanent campuses, although their time for temporary certificates has expired.

President Abdul Hamid, who is also the chancellor of all the universities, sat with the authorities of the private universities on February 5 to discuss various issues and the alleged irregularities of some of them. At the meeting, Hamid gave a number of recommendations, including shifting to permanent campuses and ensuring quality teachers, well-stocked library and research labs for quality education at the tertiary level.

Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Chowdhury said the government should assess the need of universities and the availability of teachers across the country. Otherwise, it would be responsible for the decline in quality education, he added.  

“We happen to think that most entrepreneurs come with honest intentions when they wish to open a university. But reports of irregularities against such varsities show us their real intention,” UGC chairman Abdul Mannan told The Independent recently.

“We have reports that many universities operate for business only through different means, including the certificate business. Even though we tried to close the universities involved in corruption, we couldn’t do so,” he added.

He also said that it is not difficult to take action against the universities that are grossly flouting laws. Only strong will is necessary in this regard, he added.

Quantity up, not quality

Two more pvt universities get nod, taking number to 99

Even though the number of private universities in the country keeps increasing every year, most of them cannot offer quality education to students due to paucity of qualified teachers, vice-chancellors (VCs), and other staff members. Sources say that many of these universities are plagued by various irregularities like conflicts within the Board of Trustees, reluctance to move to permanent campuses, absence of legal appointment of VCs, pro-VCs and treasurers by the President, classes being held by junior teachers or part-time teachers and firing teachers without giving them a chance to defend themselves. Experts say the government should first assess the necessity of such private universities before giving them permission to operate in the education sector. It has also been alleged that some of these universities ignore the government directives and run their institutions flouting the Private University Act, 2010, thus compromising the quality of education. Even though the number of private universities keeps increasing every year, the government is yet to enforce a strong supervision mechanism to take action for breaching the laws. Education ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC) sources say sometimes action cannot be taken action against some private universities for violating the laws as their authorities happen to be quite influential. Even when the government wants to take action for the alleged irregularities of the universities concerned, their authorities obtain a stay order from the court and carry on their activities, the sources note. The Secondary and Higher Education Division of the education ministry on Tuesday gave temporary permission to two more private universities to start their activities. The universities are: the Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah University in Khulna and the Ahsania Mission University of Science and Technology in Rajshahi. Dhaka Ahsania Mission president Kazi Rafiqul Alam has set up these universities. He has also set up the Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology. Another new private university, the ZNRF University of Management Sciences, in Gulshan of the capital also got temporary permission to start its activities on January 28. Dr M Jubaidur Rahman is the founder of the university. The number of private universities, including the two new ones, now stands at 99 in Bangladesh. There are 40 public universities under the UGC across the country. As per the 43rd annual report of the UGC, 2016, there were 2,64,084 students in 34 public universities, while the number of teachers was 13,072. On the other hand, the number of students in 86 private universities were 3,37,157, while the number of teachers was 15,571. The report also found that the number of part-time teachers was 5,108 and the number of full-time teachers was 10,463. It said the number part-time teachers holding a Ph.D degree was more compared to full-time teachers. A recent letter by the UGC to education ministry said that there are 54 private universities in Dhaka alone, nine in Chittagong, four in Sylhet, three in Narayanganj, Comilla, two each in Rajshahi, Natore, Khulna and Barisal, one each in Manikganj, Faridpur, Gazipur, Kishoreganj, Jamalpur, Shariatpur, Coxs Bazar, Feni, Bogra, Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj, Kushtia and Saidpur. Speaking about private universities, the letter said only two universitiesAhsanullah University and East West Universityhave received permanent certificates, while the City University has got the permanent certificate subject to certain conditions. The letter has also mentioned that the development activities of some of these universities are being hampered as their Board of Trustees (BOT) members are engaged in wrangling over various issues. Moreover, the normal activities of some universities have slowed down due to differences in opinion between the BOT members and vice-chancellors (VC), pro-VCs and treasurers. According to the letter, of these universities, 60 have VCs, 21 have pro-VCs and 43 have treasurers. But 23 universities do not have any VC, pro-VC or treasurer. Many of the private universities are not recruiting teachers. There have been allegations that some of them are involved in the certificate business. Some of these universities have formed illegal sub-committees instead of legal committees in accordance with the Private University Act, 2010. UGC sources say the universities running illegal sub-committees are just ignoring them and the education ministry. The letter also said some universities are running academic activities without the UGCs permission or running programmes after obtaining a stay order from the court. Only 29 universities have updated audit reports, while most BOT members of such universities are allegedly involved in embezzlement. Even the offspring of freedom fighters, poor and meritorious students are not getting the scope to study free of cost. As per law, 6 per cent of such students should get the opportunity to study. The library and laboratory conditions of most of these universities are not satisfactory. Around 27 universities did not spend anything for research work in 2017. The letter also noted that most private universities are reluctant to run academic activities on their permanent campuses, although their time for temporary certificates has expired. President Abdul Hamid, who is also the chancellor of all the universities, sat with the authorities of the private universities on February 5 to discuss various issues and the alleged irregularities of some of them. At the meeting, Hamid gave a number of recommendations, including shifting to permanent campuses and ensuring quality teachers, well-stocked library and research labs for quality education at the tertiary level. Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Chowdhury said the government should assess the need of universities and the availability of teachers across the country. Otherwise, it would be responsible for the decline in quality education, he added. We happen to think that most entrepreneurs come with honest intentions when they wish to open a university. But reports of irregularities against such varsities show us their real intention, UGC chairman Abdul Mannan told The Independent recently. We have reports that many universities operate for business only through different means, including the certificate business. Even though we tried to close the universities involved in corruption, we couldnt do so, he added. He also said that it is not difficult to take action against the universities that are grossly flouting laws. Only strong will is necessary in this regard, he added.