HSC: Will record success lead to big post-exam blues?

A record number of GPA-5 students in HSC examinations this year have brought joy and jubilation for the students and the institutions concerned, but the public universities may not be able to accommodate even half of them because of shortage of seats. And there are others who have missed the GPA-5, but yet are brilliant students
A total of 28,671 students of 10 education boards, including Alim, HSC Business Management and Diploma in Business Studies this year secured the Grade Point Average (GPA)-5, but the number of seats for freshers in major public universities or specialised state- run education facilities are less then half the figure.
The Dhaka University can offer the highest 5,000 seats for the students, Rajshahi University 4000, Chittagong University 3300, Jahangirnagar University can enroll 1,400, the public medical colleges 2,500 and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) 885.
A total of 536,439 students passed HSC and its equivalent examinations this year with the pass rate being 74.31 percent.
Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University AAMS Arefin Siddique said, most students will get chance in public university, including different colleges under National University, medical colleges and different institutions.
“We will try to increase seats in different departments and institutions, including the medical colleges this year, to ensure maximum admission for higher education.” Prof. Arefin said.
However, he added “the number of universities should be increased to ensure necessary seats for the students going for higher education.”
A good number of students will also get admission in different private universities.
He admitted that a student getting GPA 5 have to get second choice of a university due to shortage of seats in the top universities.
He also said, many of the HSC- passed students would not go for higher studies, mainly due to their involvement in professional work and financial handicaps.
Prof. Dr Abul Barakat, former vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University said, the Government should develop the infrastructures and capacities in the existing Public Universities to increase seats for higher education.
The government may introduce double shifts in the universities and good colleges to accommodate better students to resolve the problems, he said.
BSS add: University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam acknowledged the undesirable situation but said plans had been taken to increase number of seats in universities, in possible cases introducing “double or evening shifts” as the number of HSC passed students was rising every year.
“No doubt, time has come to take steps for this. But we have to maintain the quality of education. Otherwise, the purpose of higher education will be failed,” said the chief of the
regulatory body for the highest seats of learning.
Only two new public universities were established in the last four years while HSC pass rate increased by around 13 percent  during the period and the number of GPA-5 holders rose four times
since 2005.
The 20-year UGC strategic plan for higher education for 2006- 2026 suggested establishment of at least 28 new universities in the country.
Renowned teacher and writer Prof. Serajul Islam Chowdhury said some reputed colleges should be upgraded to universities to solve the problem.
 
Courtesy of The Independent