Less-qualified teachers, students’ criminal activities blamed
Dhaka College, one of the renowned educational institutions in the country, has drastically been falling behind other colleges in terms of the results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination.
Meanwhile, educationists blamed the appointment of less-qualified teachers on political consideration and the students’ engagement in violent and criminal activities for the poor performance of the college in the HSC exam.
Dhaka College secured 18th position among the educational institutions under Dhaka Education Board in this year’s HSC examination results while it stood 10th last year, a clear indication of a drastic fall in the quality education at the institution.
Noted educationist Prof Serajul Islam Chowdhury said, “In spite of having a huge campus and government facilities, the college has gone to a degradable position due to political posting of less-qualified teachers and violent activities of the students.”
He suggested appointing qualified teachers and freeing the admissions process from political influence.
Prof. Serajul also opined that the principal of the college take measures to prevent its students from extorting money from the shopping malls and stores adjacent to the college.
Another educationist Prof. Siddiqur Rahman observed that the regular attendance of both the teachers and students at the classes has to be ensured to fare well in the HSC examination.
“Dhaka College lacks accountability for the non-attendance of the teachers and students at classrooms,” he told daily sun on Wednesday.
He also suggested that the concerned authorities ensure appointment of qualified teachers at the college.
When contacted, a senior teacher of the college on condition anonymity said many promising students could not sit for the HSC examination due to illness which contributed to the poor performance of the college in terms of position in the HSC exam.
He said the number of Grade Point Average (GPA)-5 holders from the college has increased this year in spite of a slide in the position.
Dhaka College is one of the earliest and most prestigious institutions for higher education in the country which offers both four-year Bachelor and one-year Master courses in various majors. But it is best known for HSC.
Previously, many students of the college secured top positions in the HSC examination and thus it was regarded as the best ever college in higher secondary level in the country.
Several thousand students study at the college which is affiliated with the National University. Most of the students are directly involved in politics.
Dhaka College was established by Dr James Taylor (Civil Surgeon at Dhaka) in 1835 as an English School (at present Dhaka Collegiate School). Dr James organised a local Committee of Public Instruction with the help of district magistrate Mr Grant. The school building was built partly out of public donations on the grounds of an English factory.
The school rose to college status in 1841 and the buildings were completed in 1846 with the aid of the Bishop of Kolkata.
In the first graduating class, there were Muslim and Hindu as well as a number of foreign students, mainly from Armenia and Portugal.
The college was relocated in 1873 to a large building to the east of Victoria Park in order to accommodate the physics and chemistry laboratories.
In 1921, the college was shifted again to the present High Court Building. During the World War II, it was moved to Siddique Bazar and at present, it has its own campus near Dhaka New Market.
-With Daily Sun input
