M M Jasim :
At least 12 to 14 private universities, which are involved in business in the name of providing higher education, are going to face punitive actions of the Ministry of Education.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid at a function in the city on Saturday directed the concern authorities to crack down on the activities of these universities. They not only lack approved campuses but also have conflicts among the board of trustees. They are also flouting the Private University Act, 2010.
“The authorities of some private universities are making money in the name of higher education. We gave them enough time to correct the situation but they failed. We are going to take tough action against these universities,” he said.
The Education Minister said there are 36 public and 80 private universities in the country. The number of students in these universities is higher than that of the public universities. “But more private universities do not follow the ministry’s guideline.”
About research activities, Nahid said, the main job of the university teachers is to concentrate on research. But unfortunately, he said, our teachers do not want to do that though the Education Ministry allocates a good number of money for research activities.
“We did not find any research results so far. But the teachers must run research activities,” the minister said.
Earlier on September 8, the University Grants Commission (UGC) cautioned the guardians and students about 12 private universities which lack approved campuses and have conflicts among board of trustees.
“This was done to caution students and their guardians so that students are not deceived by being admitted to those troubled-hit universities,” UGC Chairman AK Azad Chowdhury told The New Nation yesterday.
“We have recommended to the Education Ministry so that they take action against the universities that are not abiding by the law,” he added.
The Commission announced that activities of four universities’ board of trustees are affected following conflicts among the members. They are also using unapproved campuses. Besides, 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.
The institutions whose boards are driven by conflict are Darul Ihsan University; IBAIS University; Prime University; and Southern University, Chittagong. These four universities are operating on campuses that have not been approved, but continue to function under the aegis of court orders.
Earlier, the government cancelled the licenses of Queens University and America Bangladesh University but they remain in business under favourable court orders.
Six universities are running unapproved campuses. They are International Islamic University, Chittagong; Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology; The People’s University of Bangladesh; Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology; Northern University Bangladesh; and BGC Trust University, Bangladesh.
Of them, two universities Northern University and BGC Trust University have obtained court orders in their favour.
The UGC is investigating irregularities at private universities and it will issue a list of universities operating improperly.
The Education Minister said the faulty private universities are running their activities with the High Court Order. But ultimately the private universities will not be able to do that.
