M M Jasim :
Most of the private medical colleges are charging more than Tk 20 lakh as admission and other fees from the students, although the government fixed fee is Tk 15, 70,000.
As a result, many students, who are interested to study in private medical colleges to become doctors, are being deprived of getting opportunity.
Afiya Sultana (not real name) went to Anowar Khan Modern Medical College and Shikder Medical College to know information about the admission.
Anowar Khan Modern Medical College authorities have claimed about Tk 20 lakh, while Shikder Medical College authorities agreed to enroll her in the college for Tk 20,70,000, though the government has fixed Tk 15,70,000 for admission and other fees.
It is a single example, but there are hundreds examples that the private medical colleges are taking extra fees from the students for MBBS and BDS courses.
Contacted, Principal of Anowar Khan Modern Medical College Professor Dr Fazlur Rahman expressed his ignorance about the matter.
Not only that many students, who are on the merit lists of some private medical colleges, are being deprived of admission opportunity as authorities of these institutes are enrolling students by charging a high amount of money from the students out of merit list.
Dr Rashid Ahamed, Director, Medical Education of Directorate of Health Services, told this correspondent that they would not tolerate irregularities in the MBBS admission into any private medical college.
If we get any written complaint from students that a private medical college is charging extra money, we’ll take punitive action against it, he added.
Meanwhile, a good number of academicians have criticized the government’s decision of charging Tk 15, 70,000 for completing the MBBS and BDS courses.
Professor Syed Anwar Hussain of Dhaka University’s History Department said, it is very difficult for the students of middle and lower middle classes to spend more than 20 lakh for MBBS courses.
“The government’s decision of charging about Tk 16 lakh for the MBBS courses was also wrong. Even the authorities of medical colleges do not follow the Health Ministry direction. It should be stopped,” Syed Anwar said.
Professor Syed Moonjurul Islam of English Department of Dhaka University told The New Nation on Monday that the private medical colleges have been doing pure business in the name of education. That is why the colleges are taking extra fees from the students and making these institutions profitable.
“Education is the fundamental right to the every citizen of Bangladesh. But the government has already failed to provide it,” he said.
“Our government must spread the higher education across the country. There are many negligence of the government to ensure education for all as it allocates poor budgetary fund and does not take proper action against those institutions who are taking extra fees,” Syed Moonjurul said.
He said, “It is too much that the government fixed Tk 15,70,000 for MBBS and BDS courses. It could be reduced if the Health Ministry took rigid stance. It should be not more than Tk 10 lakh.”
“The government now can provide stipend to the insolvent students for their medical study. It is supposed to provide free education to 5 per cent students by the private medical colleges. But it is impossible without the government’s strong monitoring,” Professor Moonjurul said.
He also strongly criticised the role of the government over the demand of the Assistant Teachers of the Government Primary Schools what he said the government showed poor response to meet the teachers’ demand whereas it has decided to buy 60 luxury cars for its officials.
Professor Moonjurul urged the owners of the medical colleges to think about the meritorious students of insolvent families and to create opportunity for them to fulfill their dreams.
