Editor's Pick

Plan for higher education

22 August 2006, 18:00 PM
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Abul H. Bhuiyan Bangladesh Open University
Considering the inadequacy that prevails in the domain of higher education the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh, with the help of well known 'experts', prepared a Strategic Plan aiming to upgrade the level of higher education of Bangladesh to "truly international standard" by the year 2026 (p. 1). The Plan was prepared under the guidance of a Strategic Planning Committee formed by the education minister in response to the instructions given by the prime minister. More than 40 experts worked together and gave inputs to frame the Plan. Of the total experts, more than two-thirds are from the public institutions who were directly appointed by the government and the rest are from private institutions. After working for weeks the Strategic Planning Committee prepared the Plan and at the end of the Plan the Committee recommended several strategies to overcome the problems that exist in the higher education sector. The first reading of the Plan might create an impression that it is all right. However, a more careful study will enable any reader to draw a conclusion that it is a futile exercise and it is practically impossible to achieve the goals even if all the recommendations are materialised.

In the Committee's view, higher education in Bangladesh today is not in "proper shape" because of poor funding, weak management, low use of ICT facilities, and government interference in the management of universities, and involvement of teachers and students in state politics (p.1). To bring the higher education of Bangladesh under "proper shape" the committee discussed mainly legislation, funds, availability of technical facilities for the faculties and students, expansion of research facilities, and setting up new universities (p.77). Accordingly, the committee has made recommendations to increase the GDP share from .12% to .30% by 2026, setting up new universities, and making ICT facilities available to both teachers and students.

Hypothetically speaking, if all the recommendations are accepted and executed, would the level of higher education in Bangladesh be in "proper shape" which eventually would lead to the "truly international standard?" The answer is 'no'. Data indicate that since the independence of Bangladesh the numbers of universities, teachers, students, and the amount of government grants have increased. Yet, the quality of higher education in Bangladesh is decreasing and the universities of Bangladesh have failed to have a position even in the top five hundred universities in the world. In my view, it is not the funds or politics but the quality of the teachers that remains central to the issue of higher education standards. Mysteriously, the committee remains silent on the issue. Keeping the nonqualified teachers in the domain of higher education it would be a utopian idea to expect "truly international standard" of higher education in Bangladesh.

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If the UGC of Bangladesh means business then they should come up with the findings why the domain of higher education in Bangladesh is not in "proper shape", and then they should make their position clear as to what exactly they meant by stating "truly international standard". Surely, there are some indicators to demarcate international and non-international standards. In light of the set indicators those who qualify should be allowed to carry out teaching and research at the higher learning centres and those who are not qualified should go on retirement. Without cleaning the mess, that prevails in the domain of higher learning centres, if the recommendations made by the committee are materialised, the results will be highly unsatisfactory.

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