M M Jasim :
A good number of private universities do not follow the directives of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to run their academic activities with sufficient number of senior teachers, the UGC sources said.
As a result, the students are not getting proper and quality education at the tertiary level.
The UGC suggested certain points in the annual reports in last three years so that the education system in private universities can be improved.
It also sent many show-cause notices to the authorities of these universities, pressurising them to recruit quality teachers. But the universities have been ignoring the UGC’s initiatives continuously.
UGC Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan told The New Nation that the UGC had frequently been issuing letters to many universities to appoint senior and quality teachers, but the response was very poor.
“The UGC has no power to take action against any university, but it can submit punitive recommendations to the Education Ministry to take measures,” the UGC Chairman said.
“Senior teachers are the vital portions for imparting quality higher education. That is why we encourage the universities to appoint senior teachers i.e. Professors and Associate Professors,” he said.
UGC sources said that the Central Women’s University, East Delta University, University of South Asia, The Millennium University, Times University Bangladesh, German University Bangladesh, Feni University, Z H Sikder Science and Technology University, Rajshahi Science and Technology University in Natore, Presidency University, the People’s University of Bangladesh, Asian University of Bangladesh, South Asian University, University of South Asia, CCN University of Science and Technology, First Capital University of Bangladesh in Chuadanga, North Western University in Khulna, Far-East International University, and Canadian University of Bangladesh have not adequate number of senior teachers.
An official of the UGC wishing anonymity told The New Nation that the UGC warned the universities to shut down the courses in case of failure to appoint senior teachers. At the same time, the UGC has rejected new courses in universities where there is no Vice-Chancellor or Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
According to the UGC’s annual report, the number of highly qualified teachers is not increasing, but the number of private universities is rapidly growing. At present, there are 95 private universities in the country.
The number of students in the year 2015 was 3,50,130, while it was 3,30,730 in 2014, 3,28,736 in 2013, 3,14,640 in 2012, 2,20,752 in 2010, 2,00,939 in 2009, 1,82,641 in 2008, and 1,70,505 in 2007.
Academicians said that it would be hard to ensure quality education if qualified teachers with higher degrees are not found.
They said, the purpose of the universities is not merely to issue the certificates; rather, quality education has to be imparted. But this cannot be ensured without quality teachers. They said, the quality of education is always questionable in absence of senior teachers in the universities.
Meanwhile, the number of teachers was 15,058 in 2015. Of them, 10,188 were full-time teachers and 4,870 were part-time teachers. However, among the full-time teachers, the number of Professors was only 708, while Associate Professors were 564, Assistant Professors were 2,178, and Lecturers were 6,512.
A good number of private universities do not follow the directives of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to run their academic activities with sufficient number of senior teachers, the UGC sources said.
As a result, the students are not getting proper and quality education at the tertiary level.
The UGC suggested certain points in the annual reports in last three years so that the education system in private universities can be improved.
It also sent many show-cause notices to the authorities of these universities, pressurising them to recruit quality teachers. But the universities have been ignoring the UGC’s initiatives continuously.
UGC Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan told The New Nation that the UGC had frequently been issuing letters to many universities to appoint senior and quality teachers, but the response was very poor.
“The UGC has no power to take action against any university, but it can submit punitive recommendations to the Education Ministry to take measures,” the UGC Chairman said.
“Senior teachers are the vital portions for imparting quality higher education. That is why we encourage the universities to appoint senior teachers i.e. Professors and Associate Professors,” he said.
UGC sources said that the Central Women’s University, East Delta University, University of South Asia, The Millennium University, Times University Bangladesh, German University Bangladesh, Feni University, Z H Sikder Science and Technology University, Rajshahi Science and Technology University in Natore, Presidency University, the People’s University of Bangladesh, Asian University of Bangladesh, South Asian University, University of South Asia, CCN University of Science and Technology, First Capital University of Bangladesh in Chuadanga, North Western University in Khulna, Far-East International University, and Canadian University of Bangladesh have not adequate number of senior teachers.
An official of the UGC wishing anonymity told The New Nation that the UGC warned the universities to shut down the courses in case of failure to appoint senior teachers. At the same time, the UGC has rejected new courses in universities where there is no Vice-Chancellor or Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
According to the UGC’s annual report, the number of highly qualified teachers is not increasing, but the number of private universities is rapidly growing. At present, there are 95 private universities in the country.
The number of students in the year 2015 was 3,50,130, while it was 3,30,730 in 2014, 3,28,736 in 2013, 3,14,640 in 2012, 2,20,752 in 2010, 2,00,939 in 2009, 1,82,641 in 2008, and 1,70,505 in 2007.
Academicians said that it would be hard to ensure quality education if qualified teachers with higher degrees are not found.
They said, the purpose of the universities is not merely to issue the certificates; rather, quality education has to be imparted. But this cannot be ensured without quality teachers. They said, the quality of education is always questionable in absence of senior teachers in the universities.
Meanwhile, the number of teachers was 15,058 in 2015. Of them, 10,188 were full-time teachers and 4,870 were part-time teachers. However, among the full-time teachers, the number of Professors was only 708, while Associate Professors were 564, Assistant Professors were 2,178, and Lecturers were 6,512.
