Lifting VAT on private universities

Recently, the governmental stance to continue the imposition of value added tax (VAT) on the tuition fees for private universities has enraged the students of such institutions along with their parents since they started to bear additional expenses above tuition fees. The private universities have rigorously increased the fees including the supplementary ones - as they are supposed to deliver VAT. However, the VAT was meant for the university authorities yet students are becoming the scapegoats of the universities' profit-making policies. It should be considered an outrageous burden for the students.

The government's new VAT policy would obstruct the higher education system of the country. The government should not discourage the growth of private universities across the country as the existing public universities do not accommodate the rising number of students seeking to pursue higher education they deserve. If the government becomes fixed to its decision, students from middle-income families would be deprived of higher education due to the high costs.

Ordinary citizens should demand the swift withdrawal of the VAT. Besides, the government should take stern measure against those private universities who are compelling the students to pay VAT on their behalf.

Nabil Azam Dewan

Lalmatia, Dhaka

nabil.dewan@gmail.com