MM Jasim :
Some private universities continue their certificate business rampantly despite government’s repeated warnings.
The government is unable to take stern action against such irregularities because of the court’s stay-order on the government’s ban.
As a result, the higher education in private universities is at stake and is questioning the whole education system.
Even the Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid expressed his disappointment at the government’s helplessness against the illegal activities of some private universities. All measures against the certificate business failed to flourish, Nahid said.
UGC Chairman Professor AK Azad Chowdhury told The New Nation yesterday, “We have identified some universities of committing irregularities, overlooking the UGC’s directions. The UGC directed the students and their guardians in September this year to avoid troubled-hit universities.”
“Certificate business is unethical and it destroys the education system. We will take stern action if any university sells certificates in future. The UGC will keep watch on the activities of the private universities. No university can do it,” the UGC chairman said. The UGC cautioned guardians and students about 12 private universities due to their irregularities including certificate business.
But some universities continue their certificate business for money. Darul Ihsan University and some other 11 universities allegedly are on the top in the business.
Nurul Islam Nahid recently said, “The auithorities of the some private universities are making money in the name of higher education. We gave them enough time to correct themselves. Now we are going to take tough action against these universities.”
In the month of June, University Grants Commission (UGC) submitted a proposal to the education ministry for controlling the private varsities. According to the UGC report, many private universities are rendering below-standard education to the students while many are involved with certificate trading.
The proposal suggested enhancing the power of the UGC including operation of mobile courts for shutting down unauthorised campuses and giving of the magistracy of education ministry officials to deal with irregularities in the private-sector educational institutions.
The report referred to the government’s helplessness tackles the widespread irregularities and corruption in the private universities.
“Only the Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology could fulfill all conditions and received permanent certificate from the government under the Private University Law-2010,” the report said.
The government earlier halted all activities of Queens University (Uttara, Dhaka), and America Bangladesh University on the ground of gross irregularities.
However, the varsities are operating their regular activities by obtaining stay orders from the court on the governments ban.
Some 18 private universities lodged cases against UGC and Education Ministry.
Earlier on September 8, the University Grants Commission (UGC) cautioned guardians and students about 12 private universities’ applying to quality education.
The commission disclosed presence of conflicts in the universities’ board of trustees’ members and using of unapproved campuses. Two institutions had their licenses cancelled by the government but were operating under court orders, and another six were using campuses that were not approved.
