THE government has approved six new private universities – two to be set up in capital Dhaka and one each in Chittagong, Khulna, Kushtia and Manikganj. It would push the number of total private universities to 89 and more than half of them are located in the capital. The new approval has naturally raised question as to why the government is giving license to more private universities ignoring opposition by senior academics at a time when existing ones are beset with many irregularities and the standard of education of many of them is very poor.
But the announcement has justified action of the Ministry of Education saying new universities were given approval in the interest of expansion of higher education in the country. But the fact is that many of the sponsors of the new private universities have political link to the government raising question whether the sponsors would be serious to make good educational institutions out of them. In fact the approval has come at a time when many private universities are reportedly functioning without meeting the basic conditions for registration. For example, many have disputes within Trustee Boards destabilizing academic environment or have not enough qualified teachers and properly equipped libraries and laboratories. Many have not proper research arrangements. Despite repeated extension of deadlines only 17 out of 52 universities have so far shifted to their own campuses over the past seven years. So indiscipline and irregularities are enormous and the new licensing has thus raised question new universities would be able to offer quality education in the first place.
In fact it is known to all that higher education in private sector is not only highly expensive now, sponsors of those institutions are widely motivated to use them as commercial organizations to earn handsome income offering courses to students. Scarcity of admission seats to public universities is making establishment of private universities highly attractive to wealthy people in highly remunerative investments. Many also show interest in setting up universities not for good education but secure position of prestige.
Besides we do not think just any kind university degree is good for the country or the students. We need education according to the needs of the country that serves the interest as job seekers. Having useless and unemployed degree holders cannot be any good for anybody.
