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Bangladesh open university A brief history

Tazmia Islam Nion

BANGLADESH Open University (BOU) was established on 21 October 1992 under the recommendation of University Grants Commission (UGC). The aim was to create higher education opportunities for all, especially for the working people.

Currently, BOU is running its activities through 12 regional, 18 local, and more than 600 tutorial centres in the country. It has spread the light of education among the grassroots level. The main campus situated in Gazipur is the central office for administration and academic coordination.

The medium of education of BOU is radio, television and postal service. But some courses demand that students attain classes. To facilitate these courses BOU arranges classes in tutorial centres on Fridays. The main advantage of studying under BOU is that students can carry on with their studies living in their own place, as they need not to come to the main campus.

So far more than 1 lakh students have earned certificates after completing their degree and diploma. The most popular programmes of BOU are SSC (Secondary School Certificate) and HSC (Higher Secondary Certificate). BOU has inaugurated Commonwealth executive MPA and Commonwealth MBA with the direct support of “Commonwealth of Learning.”

The education programme consists of twenty-one programmes. Duration of most of the courses is minimum 6 months. But students can complete the course within a period of 5 years.

The programmes are:
SSC: Required minimum qualification: Class eight, age minimum fourteen years old.
HSC: Qualification: SSC.
BSS: Semester 6, course duration 3 years.
CED: This programme is designed for primary teachers. Qualification: Female: SSC, Male: degree. Course duration: 3 years, 6 semesters.
M AD: Qualification B.AD, Masters. Duration: 18 months.
BSC: Qualification: Diploma-in-Nurse & 3 years job experience. Duration: 6 semesters in 3 years.
DCSA: Qualification: HSC, Duration: 18 months, 3 semesters.

Certificate in English Language Proficiency/CELF & Certificate in Arabic Language Proficiency/KALOP: Qualification: SSC. Duration: 6 months. It is a short course programme.

Bachelor in English Language Teaching (BELT): Duration: 2 yrs, 4 semesters. This course is only for English teachers.
Certificate in Management: (CIM): Qualification: HSC. Duration: 1 yr, 2 semesters.

Post Graduate Diploma in Management: Qualification:
Commerce graduate. Duration: 1 yr, 2 semesters or in case normal graduate duration: 18 months, 3 semesters.

MBA: Qualification: Graduate. Duration: 2 yrs, 4 semesters.
CEMBA/CEMPA: Qualification: Graduate & minimum two yrs job experience. Duration: 2 yrs, 4 semesters.
BAGAD: To get admitted in BOU's “Agriculture Education” directed by “School & Agriculture & Rural Development”. Qualification: HSC (Science/Agriculture) or Diploma (3 yrs) or minimum 2nd class in equivalent course (3rd class is acceptable for school teachers).
CPFC (Certificate in Pisciculture & Fish Proceeding: Qualification: SSC. Course duration: 6 months.