Bengali literature, history made compulsory subjects

Bengali literature and grammar along with the history of Bangladesh will be made compulsory subjects for all students of both public and private universities from the next academic session. However, the authorities of several universities said they did not have the manpower to teach the two subjects to all their students at present. They further said though it was necessary to have a subject on the country’s history, Bengali literature and grammar would be irrelevant at the university level. They also urged the authorities concerned to discuss the matter with them before introducing such compulsory subjects. University Grants Commission (UGC) sources said they have formed two separate committees headed by its members for the two subjects. A meeting was also held to frame a guideline to help the universities to formulate the syllabus accordingly, the sources added.
UGC member Prof. Md. Akhtar Hossain will head the committee for the emergence of Bangladesh and its history. He will be assisted by two members Dr Syed Anwar Hossain and Prof. Muntasir Mamun, and member secretary Omar Faruque.
The other committee for Bengali literature and grammar will be headed by Prof. Mohammad Yousuf Ali Mollah, who will be assisted by two members Prof Rafiqul Islam and Soumitra Shekhar, and member secretary Shamsul Arefin.
The committees would determine the credit of the two subjects. It has been learnt that the credit of the subjects would be below three and above two. The papers for Bengali literature and grammar would be for 50 marks each. The literature section would cover the writings of Rabindranath Tagore, Nazrul Islam, Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Jibanananda Das and others. The UGC said such subjects were being introduced to teach students about the country’s history as well as its literature and language, as many students did not know about these properly.
The UGC also said it had discussed the subjects in April, much before the militant attack at the Gulshan café in Dhaka. However, the matter of introduction the subjects came to the limelight after the terror attack as the government thought it was necessary.
In this regard, the government had said the students were being derailed without having knowledge of the history of Bangladesh. “Students have to know the history of Bangladesh because many of them fail to even answer basic questions on the subject during different examinations, which is really unfortunate. So, the decision has been taken to introduce such compulsory subjects,” UGC chairman Prof. Abdul Mannan told The Independent yesterday. He said they did not discuss the issue with the authorities of the universities before its introduction.
Some of the authorities of private universities said the UGC should have talked with them before the introduction of the compulsory subjects.
“We’re not ready to run such subjects. We don’t have any such department let alone teachers. We’ll think of it after shifting to the permanent campus,” Prof. Gias Uddin Ahmad, vice-chancellor of Primeasia University, told The Independent. Prof. Mesbauddin Ahmed, vice-chancellor of Gonobiswabidyalay, said, “Such subjects are necessary because of the students don’t know about the history of Bangladesh.”
Prof. M Rizwan Khan, vice-chancellor of United International University, said, “The subject of the history of Bangladesh is ok but the subject of Bengali grammar would be ridiculous at the university level. Even there is no subject for grammar at the college level.”  “It’ll be unfortunate if the purpose of introduction of such subjects is not achieved,” he added.
Replying to a query of introducing such subjects for all students in university level, the UGC chairman said, “We’ve faults in education system. Many of these matters are not included in the syllabus.”
At present, there are about 40 public universities and 95 private universities in the country.

 

Bengali literature, history made compulsory subjects

Bengali literature and grammar along with the history of Bangladesh will be made compulsory subjects for all students of both public and private universities from the next academic session. However, the authorities of several universities said they did not have the manpower to teach the two subjects to all their students at present. They further said though it was necessary to have a subject on the countrys history, Bengali literature and grammar would be irrelevant at the university level. They also urged the authorities concerned to discuss the matter with them before introducing such compulsory subjects. University Grants Commission (UGC) sources said they have formed two separate committees headed by its members for the two subjects. A meeting was also held to frame a guideline to help the universities to formulate the syllabus accordingly, the sources added. UGC member Prof. Md. Akhtar Hossain will head the committee for the emergence of Bangladesh and its history. He will be assisted by two members Dr Syed Anwar Hossain and Prof. Muntasir Mamun, and member secretary Omar Faruque. The other committee for Bengali literature and grammar will be headed by Prof. Mohammad Yousuf Ali Mollah, who will be assisted by two members Prof Rafiqul Islam and Soumitra Shekhar, and member secretary Shamsul Arefin. The committees would determine the credit of the two subjects. It has been learnt that the credit of the subjects would be below three and above two. The papers for Bengali literature and grammar would be for 50 marks each. The literature section would cover the writings of Rabindranath Tagore, Nazrul Islam, Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Jibanananda Das and others. The UGC said such subjects were being introduced to teach students about the countrys history as well as its literature and language, as many students did not know about these properly. The UGC also said it had discussed the subjects in April, much before the militant attack at the Gulshan caf in Dhaka. However, the matter of introduction the subjects came to the limelight after the terror attack as the government thought it was necessary. In this regard, the government had said the students were being derailed without having knowledge of the history of Bangladesh. Students have to know the history of Bangladesh because many of them fail to even answer basic questions on the subject during different examinations, which is really unfortunate. So, the decision has been taken to introduce such compulsory subjects, UGC chairman Prof. Abdul Mannan told The Independent yesterday. He said they did not discuss the issue with the authorities of the universities before its introduction. Some of the authorities of private universities said the UGC should have talked with them before the introduction of the compulsory subjects. Were not ready to run such subjects. We dont have any such department let alone teachers. Well think of it after shifting to the permanent campus, Prof. Gias Uddin Ahmad, vice-chancellor of Primeasia University, told The Independent. Prof. Mesbauddin Ahmed, vice-chancellor of Gonobiswabidyalay, said, Such subjects are necessary because of the students dont know about the history of Bangladesh. Prof. M Rizwan Khan, vice-chancellor of United International University, said, The subject of the history of Bangladesh is ok but the subject of Bengali grammar would be ridiculous at the university level. Even there is no subject for grammar at the college level. Itll be unfortunate if the purpose of introduction of such subjects is not achieved, he added. Replying to a query of introducing such subjects for all students in university level, the UGC chairman said, Weve faults in education system. Many of these matters are not included in the syllabus. At present, there are about 40 public universities and 95 private universities in the country.