Feature

EWU Convocation held

Campus Desk

EDUCATION Minister Nurul Islam Nahid called on the private universities to make every effort to ensure quality education in order to make students competent and efficient so that they can cope with the challenges of the new era. Private universities in the country have been playing a vital role in providing desired education for the students, he said, adding, “I believe that our private universities will make every effort in ensuring quality education.”

The minister said this at the 8th convocation of the East West University at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city. Congratulating the graduating students, he said the convocation does not mark an end to their learning, rather it is a time that reminds the responsibility of serving the nation which has been bestowed on them. “Your university had laid a strong foundation of you (graduates),” he said, asking the graduates to apply their knowledge they have learnt from the university with a vision of contributing to the country's overall development. The minister called on the private universities to arrange merit-based scholarships more for the students belonging to the less privileged class. Delivering the convocation speech, noted Prof Anisuzzaman said, “A university is not only a place for transmitting received knowledge, it must create new knowledge where we lag behind.” One of the problems of higher education in Bangladesh stems from overcrowding, he said, adding, “I am not against the expansion of higher education, but I think that higher education is not for everyone; it's for the deserving.” Laying emphasis on primary and secondary-level education, he said, “Every citizen has a right to primary education, but we have not been able to give this minimum quantum of education to all, although, time and again, we have set target dates for that.”

A total of 923 students from 15 programmes received certificates in the convocation. Of them, 671 students were conferred undergraduate degrees and 252 students received graduate degrees at the convocation, while seven students were awarded gold medals for their outstanding academic achievements.

(Source: The Daily Star)