Journalism Department
DU postpones evening course under pressure
DU Correspondent
Dhaka University (DU) authorities yesterday postponed its decision to launch master's programme for media professionals at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) in the wake of student agitations.The decision was taken at a syndicate meeting of the university with its Vice Chancellor Prof SMA Faiz in the chair. The students of MCJ department had been protesting the move for offering evening master's programme at the department for the last two weeks. They also enforced a strike at all departments at the Arts Building protesting the new master's programme at the MCJ yesterday. The strike, first of its kind after the state of emergency have been declared, hampered academic activities partially when supporters of it prevented general students from entering the classrooms. Examinations, however, were out of the purview of the strike. During the strike, the students staged demonstrations on the campus chanting slogans against the two-year evening Master's programme for professionals. The agitating students said that the new programme would put extra pressure on teachers as well as existing infrastructure of the university. They said eventually it would degrade the standard of the university education. When contacted, Chairman of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department Prof Shaikh Abdus Salam said the decision of introducing the new programme has been taken within the university rules and regulations and it is approved by the Syndicate, the highest decision making body. "All pros and cons of the new programme have been discussed in the academic committee, faculty meeting and the academic council", he said. He said such programme is not new at the Dhaka University as there are similar programmes at IBA, Business Studies Faculty, Institute of Social Welfare, Library and Information Sciences and a number of other departments are going to launch professional master's degree soon. When asked about the students' apprehension of extra load on teachers, he had said, "We would offer four courses per semesters that needs similar number of teachers, so it is irrational to think that it will put huge pressure on teachers." He said a handful of students, hardly 15 to 20, have been protesting against the programme.
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