A delegation of the University Grants Commission (UGC) led by Chairman Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah has submitted its ‘Annual Report-2021’ to President M Abdul Hamid on Thursday. UGC responsible for formulating higher education policy and advising the government accordingly, in its report says it wants the complete closure of evening courses at universities for the sake of regular students’ academic activities.
Besides, the apex and statutory body of the universities of Bangladesh, also wants to be empowered with executive powers so that it can take measures against irregularities in public and private universities quickly, according to the report.
The UGC has mentioned two most important issues in its report as these activities tarnish the image of the universities. Country’s most prestigious public universities are now running evening postgraduate, certificate, diploma and other professional courses. The public universities’ core and regular academic activities are being affected badly as the teachers are very busy with evening courses and private universities. Therefore, regular students several times expressed grave concern over their academic activities, requesting the university authorities to shut the evening courses. Academics and experts fear if the evening courses are not shut immediately, the mainstream students will be falling in more trouble in coming days as they are not getting enough time from their teachers.
The government must devise necessary
measures to wipe out nepotism in recruiting
teachers and staff at different public universities
Our prestigious universities have been turned into “business organisations” instead of devoting to excellence in teaching, learning, and research in order to make our youths worthy citizen. On the other hand, Vice-chancellors’ (VCs) nepotism in recruiting teachers and staffs at different public universities, is also threatening the higher educational institutions’ atmosphere. In recent times, such illegal and unethical activities exceeded the limit.
VC is the person next in rank below the chancellor, who acts as the chancellor’s deputy or substitute. His or her (VC) only 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 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. Such unlawful, unethical and immoral activities by VCs continue depriving the meritorious citizen of the country. Besides, pro-vice-chancellors, deans and heads of departments are also engaged in recruiting their near and dear ones or followers.
We believe the honourable president will consider the UGC’s recommendations mentioned in its ‘Annual Report-2021’. Otherwise, the image of the country’s prestigious universities will be tarnished if the evening courses continue while VCs and other teachers continue indulging in various corruptions, irregularities and nepotism.
