The Education Ministry has cancelled the recruitment of nine relatives of Khulna Agricultural University’s (KAU) Vice Chancellor (VC). Besides, the ministry has also asked the university authority to cancel the recruitment of 73 more teachers of the institution.
Without ‘subject experts’, forming a one-member scrutiny committee, the KAU VC Shahidur Rahman has recruited 73 teachers of 20 departments of the institution. The education ministry came up with this drastic action when the VC’s tenure is going to expire on September 11. Shahidur Rahman appointed his family members like sons, daughters, nephews, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law’s son to different positions at the institution. He also took a move to recruit his wife as the university professor.
We highly appreciate the education ministry’s action. Needless to say, nepotism in recruiting teachers and staffs at different public universities is threatening the country’s higher educational institutions’ atmosphere. And in recent times, such illegal and unethical activities have exceeded the limit.
Nepotism in recruiting teachers and staffs at
different public universities is threatening the
country’s higher educational institutions’ atmosphere
In a Bangladesh university, the VC is the person next in rank below the chancellor, who acts as the chancellor’s deputy or substitute. His or her (VC) responsibility is to ensure quality education and create congenial atmosphere on campuses alongside discharging administrative matters properly and transparently. But it is very shameful for all us as well as the nation when we see the VCs have been accused of gross nepotism in appointing their sons, daughters, nephews, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law’s son to different positions at their respective universities.
Apart from KAU VC, VCs of University of Rajshahi, Pabna University of Science and Technology and Sylhet Medical University did the same thing. There are also allegations of irregularities in the recruitment at many other public universities including new ones. Over dozens of former and incumbent VCs of public universities are facing various types of corruption charges. Therefore, such unlawful, unethical and immoral activities indulged in by VCs continue depriving the meritorious citizen of the country. Country’s people from all walks of life believe that the head of the state or the government appoint a VC who is capable to work tirelessly rising above personal and political interests to enrich the university with quality education, research and other curricula. But many eminent educationists and academics are not interested to become VC of any university.
In this regard, the head of the state and the prime minister will have to create such atmosphere where eminent educationists and academics will be interested to take the responsibility and act as the chancellor’s deputy or substitute.
