About 11 lakh students of National University are worried about their future as academic and administrative mismanagement, lack of supervision and corruption of the authorities are pushing their academic career into uncertainties.
Students who are mainly from low and middle income groups said that they suffered at every stage of their academic lives, from admission process to completion of their studies, due to mismanagement.
‘It seems it is a curse being a student of National University. We suffer right from the admission process to completion of graduation as the university cannot provide us with adequate services,’ said Iftekhar Alam, a student of Tejgoan College under National University.
National University is different from other public universities. It is responsible for giving approval, supervising its affiliated colleges, conducting examinations and training teachers but does not have any in-campus activities like other public universities.
There are 2,200 colleges under National University and about 1,119,275 students study in these colleges.
Teachers and students said that the university had failed to properly supervise its affiliated colleges and as a result the quality education in these colleges is on the decline.
‘Standard of education in the colleges has drastically declined. We think the quality of education in these colleges was better when they were not under National University,’ said a principal of a college in the city.
The university was established in 1992 as per the recommendation of Qudrat-i-Khuda Education
Commission. Officials said that the inspection department of the university was not working properly. They are not carrying out the tasks of supervision properly leading to a decline in the quality of education in the colleges.
The National University ordinance said that the university would ask the colleges to submit their annual reports and would take necessary steps on the basis of their recommendations.
Officials said that the university had not taken any steps so far to improve the situation on the recommendations of its affiliated colleges.
Students said that the university had also failed to do its duties properly in conducting examinations, publishing results, in the admission process, checking answer scripts and in every sector.
‘Examinations are conducted in time and results are also delayed,’ said Mamun Hossain, a student of Government Bangla College.
Students said that this year the honours first year examinations were postponed twice.
‘It happens for every course. We take preparations and then suddenly come to know that the examination is postponed,’ said Mamun.
‘The university also cannot publish results in time. No result is published in due time,’ he added.
Students blamed ineptitude of the officials for the troubled academic activities at the university.
Due to lack of qualified officials, the university could not appoint officials to its top posts on a regular basis in its 20 years. About 12 top posts are filled by officials on acting duties. The university does not have any registrar at the moment. An acting registrar is running the affair.
There are also questions about the financial transparency in the university. Its treasurer Quazi Faruque Ahmed has recently submitted a written complaint to the education ministry about the ‘irregularities’ in the university.
In his complaint, Faruque said that he could not work properly due to unnecessary interference of the authorities in the financial and budgetary matters which were mainly the treasurer’s duty. Faruque said he would not compromise on financial transparency and accountability.
Students also alleged that a section of corrupt officials of National University were adding to their sufferings by demanding bribes for any work.
‘Whatever the work, you must pay them bribe to get things done. Recently, I needed to change my subjects and for that I had to give bribes,’ said a student of Titumir College.
Educationists said that the government should think seriously about the situation at National University.
‘The government should pay attention to the problems of National University as careers of several lakh students were involved with the issue. No doubt, the students are suffering,’ said former chairman of University Grants Commission, Nazrul Islam.
The university pro vice-chancellor Tofail Ahmed Chowdhury admitted that there were ‘some problems’ in National University. ‘We are trying hard to address them.’
‘It is true we cannot do the academic supervision of the colleges properly as per the Ordinance of National University. Now we are concerned about admission, results and other academic activities. Soon we will look into this matter,’ he said.
About the alleged corruption of officials, he said, ‘Whenever we receive any such allegations, we look into it.’
Courtesy of New Age
