M M Jasim :
The academic activities of a number of private universities in the country are run by the part-time teachers in violation of the Private University Act-2010.
As a result, the students are deprived of quality education and they (students) face many problems in their work place.
A recent statistics of the University Grants Commission (UGC) show that many private universities do not respect law.
As per the Act, the number of the part-time teachers in the privately run institutions should not exceed one-third proportion of the fulltime teachers.
The statistics show there were a total of 14,219 teachers at 75 private universities in 2014. Of the teachers, the number of full-timers was 9,427 while part-timers 4,792.
The UGC officials said that the high-ups of the UGC directed all private universities to increase their full-time teachers. But the direction is not followed meticulously, they said.
National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harun-Ur-Rashid said, the main goal of the private
universities is to make profit through minimising costs and that is why these institutions are careless about ensuring quality education.
“Private universities are highly dependent on part-timers and junior teachers. They are not paying any attention to research and library. It seems to me that except four to five private universities, most of them are nothing, but coaching centres,” he said. Professor Harun observed that UGC officials should shun excessive foreign tours and give attention to ensuring quality education at private universities.
The statistics collected by the UGC also discover there were a total of 292 teachers at University of Asia Pacific in 2014. Of them, 136 were part-timers. There were a good number of part-timers at the universities like East West University, Independent University, BRAC University, Premier University, Stamford University and Green University.
The statistics also reveal that privately run institutions are not only dependent on part-timers, but also dependent on junior teachers, lecturers and assistant professors.
In 2014, the number of lecturers in private varsities was 7,596 while the number of assistant professors was 2,767.
Astonishing matter is there were only 716 full-time professors at 75 private universities, which were running academic activities. On the other hand, the number of professors is about 900 at Dhaka University alone only.
The first private university of the country was established in 1992. Now, the number is 84 as the past governments have allowed politicians, businessman and influential quarters to open private university.
Since inception, these universities were dependent on part-time teachers and they are yet to come out from such dependency even after 23 years of their initiation.
The academic activities of a number of private universities in the country are run by the part-time teachers in violation of the Private University Act-2010.
As a result, the students are deprived of quality education and they (students) face many problems in their work place.
A recent statistics of the University Grants Commission (UGC) show that many private universities do not respect law.
As per the Act, the number of the part-time teachers in the privately run institutions should not exceed one-third proportion of the fulltime teachers.
The statistics show there were a total of 14,219 teachers at 75 private universities in 2014. Of the teachers, the number of full-timers was 9,427 while part-timers 4,792.
The UGC officials said that the high-ups of the UGC directed all private universities to increase their full-time teachers. But the direction is not followed meticulously, they said.
National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harun-Ur-Rashid said, the main goal of the private
universities is to make profit through minimising costs and that is why these institutions are careless about ensuring quality education.
“Private universities are highly dependent on part-timers and junior teachers. They are not paying any attention to research and library. It seems to me that except four to five private universities, most of them are nothing, but coaching centres,” he said. Professor Harun observed that UGC officials should shun excessive foreign tours and give attention to ensuring quality education at private universities.
The statistics collected by the UGC also discover there were a total of 292 teachers at University of Asia Pacific in 2014. Of them, 136 were part-timers. There were a good number of part-timers at the universities like East West University, Independent University, BRAC University, Premier University, Stamford University and Green University.
The statistics also reveal that privately run institutions are not only dependent on part-timers, but also dependent on junior teachers, lecturers and assistant professors.
In 2014, the number of lecturers in private varsities was 7,596 while the number of assistant professors was 2,767.
Astonishing matter is there were only 716 full-time professors at 75 private universities, which were running academic activities. On the other hand, the number of professors is about 900 at Dhaka University alone only.
The first private university of the country was established in 1992. Now, the number is 84 as the past governments have allowed politicians, businessman and influential quarters to open private university.
Since inception, these universities were dependent on part-time teachers and they are yet to come out from such dependency even after 23 years of their initiation.
