Feature

On behalf of Private Universities

Abu Noman Md. Atahar Ali

There are five basic necessities for a human being. These are: food, cloth, shelter, health and education. Though this perception is not recognized by the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, nevertheless we have some fundamental principles of State Policy under article 8 to 25 that focus on these five basic necessities.

Among these rights, the right to education enlightens a man. Right to education also includes right to higher education. Once, access to higher education was limited to a small number of elitist groups defined by birth, social status and wealth. However, with social progress and democratization of the state, access to higher education has become easier. Since the birth of the concept of globalization, a good number of people are taking higher education all over the world. It should be noted that most of the old universities of the world originated as private initiatives to teach religion or theology. As the whole world is turning to the material connotation of globalization today, education is no longer only for nobility or even for just acquiring knowledge. One has to be educated to compete in the global scenario.

Bangladesh realized this concept somewhat late. In 1992 the Private Universities Act was passed. With time, the number of Private Universities in Bangladesh now has reached 53.

Today it has become fashionable to criticize private universities. We do welcome criticism, but when it includes all the private universities concerned, then this should not be welcomed any more. Many critics say that there should a maximum of 5 or 6 private universities in Bangladesh, but I fail to understand their problem if our boys and girls pursue their education in their own country. Where will the students who are not able to get admitted in the public universities, which provide very few seats, go? Should the Government not provide them at least a chance to pursue higher education in their own country? The perception that higher education is a public good and therefore should be provided exclusively by the state at a subsidized price is also a faded idea now. The Government is not able to subsidize any more. A primary reason for this is that state does not have enough funds. Public expenditure on higher education has decreased all over the world. Reduction in available funds resulted in the inability of the public universities to expand and meet the increasing demand for higher education. Consequently, governments all over the world now encourage private investment in higher education.

Just one decade ago, a good number of students would go to foreign countries for higher education every year. The majority of such students would go to our neighboring country, India. This number has decreased substantially now, as a result of the proliferation of private universities in Bangladesh, which is saving a lot of national currency.

Many who are criticizing Private Universities are not keeping their boys and girls to study in Bangladesh. It is very easy to write a column in a newspaper criticizing the private universities, but shouldn't we at least congratulate their efforts?

Another question arises that almost all private universities are maintaining their campus within a few buildings. There is no doubt that a campus should be large enough to include open fields, student halls, gymnasiums etc. But my question is how is it possible to manage such land area for all these universities in a country like Bangladesh, which is one of the most populous in the world.

The most important question arises with the quality of education in private universities. Before answering this question, I have another question. Why are the critics so concerned about the quality of private universities and not that of the public universities? Is the latter ensuring high quality in a global perspective? The answer may be that it is just an attempt to distract the people away from the situation of public universities. Those who were students of public universities and are now engaged with a private university can realize that the quality of most private universities is better than that of the public universities. Most meritorious students get admitted in public universities. So ultimately the lesser students get admitted in private universities, but we should not forget that their merit lies in their capacity for hard labor and patience. So, it is not difficult to convert a bad student to a brilliant one through proper guidance. In fact, most private universities are doing this. Nowadays, most public university teachers are very busy with their consultancy, business, projects, or taking class in private universities etc. They spend little time for their own universities, whereas the teachers in Private Universities have to maintain their office time and consultancy hours. The teachers are accountable for whether the students understand their teaching or not. They even have to face student evaluation at the end of every semester. So, the teachers are bound to teach well and consequently the students are benefited.

I agree that there are some private universities that are not maintaining quality and are preoccupied with business. But is criticism of all the others the only path to overcome that problem? What is UGC doing? Isn't it their duty to ensure the quality of universities?

I think it's time to stop the categorical criticism, which affects the students of private universities. The critics should realise how their negativity frustrates the students of good private universities as well as their guardians. So please stop the criticism. Our civil society is doing many things for the country. They should come forward and help with this problem as well. Let us all make a fruitful effort to ensure quality education in the private universities that are not maintaining it.

Lecturer, Dept. of Law & Justice
Southeast University
E-mail: seu_atahar@yahoo.com