Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni during Monday’s cabinet meeting expressed her optimism about reopening all universities this month. It has been two years since the universities were closed on the plea of preventing coronavirus spread. Despite continuous student protests, the education ministry never gave a nod to start the classes or reopen the dorms. Moreover, the ministry’s pessimistic attitude encouraged university administrations to lock up the residential halls, for which a large number of students faced obstacles in exam preparation. When the situation was so delicate, the education minister clarified her stance saying that the decision of university reopening was under the jurisdiction of their syndicates. Our education minister is smart enough not to give a decision publicly over the issue. Rather, she has tactfully pushed the ball to the syndicates’ court.
The education ministry yesterday showed a number of problems, including the need for new beds, chair-table and hall renovation, for not reopening the varsities. We’re surprised why the ministry did not take any initiative to keep the residential halls prepared, when they are supposed to announce their reopening anytime. Why hall renovation and other difficulties come to light at the eleventh hour? Even if the syndicates want to reopen varsities, it will not be possible for students to return to their dormitories. Who is to blame for this situation? Everybody knows the syndicates are not independent bodies. These are the platforms of ruling party-backed teachers and officials. The nackboneless VCs and powerless Syndicates cannot disobey their employer’s order.
Bangladesh stood first across the globe for keeping close educational institutions closed for around two years. UNICEF in its recent analysis said that prolonged closure of educational institutions throughout the pandemic has affected over 40 million Bangladeshi students from pre-primary to higher education level. However, the schools are partially open now but the government is very shaky in announcing the reopening of universities. Students’ careers should not be destroyed by whimsical decisions.
