The quality of education in private universities still remains a big question as the University Grants Commission (UGC) finds no respite in its struggle to curb the opening of unauthorised campuses by some private universities.
UGC sources told UNB that they have issued legal notices to several private universities-Darul Ihsan University, Prime University, Northern University Bangladesh, Asian University of Bangladesh, Southern University Bangladesh and IBAIS University-over the last few years to close their unauthorised branches, but to no effect.
Some of the private universities are engaged in certificate trade in the name of providing education, and UGC has filed cases with the court against those universities, the sources added.
Contacted, Prime University governing body member Mir Shahabuddin admitted that a former management official of the university is indeed doing ‘certificate business’ by opening several campuses at different places in the city.
He alleged that the official, who was once in charge of the university’s Uttara campus, is now claiming himself to be the owner of the university and running several campuses.
“We’ve informed the authorities concerned that those campuses are providing false certificates and urged them to take steps,” he said.
UGC chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury told the news agency that 4-5 private universities whose existences are found only in documents are running ‘certificate trade’ by enrolling students through advertisements.
He said some students who are from rich families and require only certificates take admissions to such universities.
Prof Azad further said some private universities facing ownership conflicts are operating only to make money. The UGC chairman said they have formed six monitoring committees that are making surprise visits to the private universities and added that the committees will ask the Education Ministry to take action against the errant private universities.
The job for the UGC has become harder due to approvals given to private universities under political consideration.
UGC sources alleged that political influence worked behind the approval of most of the private universities in recent years.
Since 2009, the government has approved a total of 26 private universities. There are now 79 private universities across the country with 49 operating in Dhaka alone.
Of the private universities, only 17 have their own campuses while the remaining ones are yet move to their own campuses despite repeated warnings by the authorities to do so.
As per a directive issued by the ministry on January 26 this year, private universities which were yet to move to own permanent campuses even five-year into their establishment were asked to do so by 2015.
Former UGC chairman Prof Nazrul Islam Khan said the private universities are failing to provide quality education to the students as their main objectives are to make money.
He said, many private universities have opened their branches on business purpose, violating the rules set by the authorities concerned.
Prof Nazrul stressed the need for launching a social movement involving national professors and teachers’ leaders to improve the standard of education.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said, they will take necessary steps against the private universities for their failure in providing standard education to their students.
Saying that the private universities were given stipulated timeframe to move to their own campuses, the minister said legal action will be taken against those approved universities for violating conditions imposed by the government.
