From getting approval for launching till distribution of certificates, private universities see transaction of “illegal money” at every stage, revealed a study by the Transparency International Bangladesh on Monday.A section of officials of the Education Ministry, University Grants Commission (UGC) and the private universities are involved in a triangle of ‘corruption consensus’, the graft watchdog said while presenting the findings of the study on ‘Challenges of good governance in private universities and its way out’ at a press conference. The press conference, held at BRAC Center Inn in the city, presented the findings of the study carried out on 22 universities out 79 between June 2012 and May 2014.”A number of corrupt officials of the ministry concerned, the university grants commission (UGC) and the universities have involvement in the malpractice,” the report said. Director of Research and Policy Division Mohammad Rafiq Hasan and Deputy Programme Manager Nina Shamsunnahar read out the study report before the journalists.TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman and Deputy Executive Director Sr Sumaiya Khair were present at the press conference. A total of Tk 100,000-300,000 is paid as kickback to get the approval for launching a new private university, Tk 50,000-200,000 for the appointment of vice chancellors or pro-vice chancellors, Tk 50,000-100,000 to inspectors after establishment of the university and Tk 10,000-50,000 for dismissal of any objection from inspectors, it said.A bribe of Tk 10,000-30,000 is needed for getting approval for a faculty while Tk 10,000-20,000 for a department, the study report went on.A false certificate can be managed in exchange for Tk 30,000-300,000.The TIB study also found the interference of the trusty boards on decisions of the board of directors at most universities. The private universities, the report said, are being used as product of making quick money through absurdities although the activity of the private university launched in 1992 in our country aiming at spreading standard education. The report blamed to the government not having a good and longtime policy and not forming an independent and liberation accreditation council during the last four years. Apart from a few, most universities could not assure the standard education, it stated, adding that the country’s private universities are facing with hard competition for including Foreign University Campus or Study Centre Provision-2014.Only two universities have so far received permanent certificates from the education ministry though there is a provision to collect such certificate within 12 years from launching of any university, says the study. Besides, only 17 universities are conducting activities on their own campuses. The remaining universities are taking permission again and again of setting up the everlasting campuses but they do not do the work.The anti-graft body also in its survey found that many universities have opened department and launched new curriculum without the permission of the UGC. While many universities do not take class and examination but they provide certificates among the students in exchange for money. The study report said that many teachers teach more than two universities violating the rules and regulation of the UGC, adding that the allegation of question paper leakage or disclosing question before the examination, extra marks and sexual harassment have been detected.Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that the private universities have been to the destruction due to lack of transparency, accountability, effective monitoring, interconnection between UGC and universities, and being captivated in the hands of corruption. “There is no alternative to good governance in the sector.” TIB placed its 16-point demands to trace overall challenges and come out from those. They include Enactment of Private University Act-2010, formation of accreditation council, increasing of manpower of UGC, more empowering UGC and strengthening its monitoring activities and system of punishment in case of violation of law.
