Every year, more than 1.2 million students pass the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination in Bangladesh with aspirations for higher education. However, fewer than 50,000 seats are available in the country's 56 public universities, leaving the vast majority with limited options.
Most of these students enrol in colleges affiliated with the National University (NU), which, in terms of enrolment, is one of the largest universities in the world. However, NU students continue to face systemic neglect-both institutionally and socially-often being unfairly labelled as "less qualified." This perception is not only unjust but also harmful to the nation's development.
The challenges are structural. Administrative inefficiencies lead to session backlogs, delayed examinations, and late publication of results, severely affecting students' academic and professional prospects. At the same time, resource allocation remains grossly unequal. While significant funds are spent per student in traditional public universities, expenditure at NU remains disproportionately low, undermining the quality of education.
This disparity has created a two-tiered system, where only a privileged few can access quality education, while the majority are left behind. Many are pushed towards costly private universities, making education increasingly inaccessible. As a result, the country risks losing its potential human capital.
Bangladesh aspires to become a developed nation by 2041. This goal cannot be achieved without investing in the education of the majority. Greater funding for the National University, administrative reforms, and autonomy for high-performing colleges are essential. Equally important is shifting the focus from institutional prestige to skills and competence.
NU students are not seeking charity; they are demanding their rightful opportunity to contribute to national progress. The question is, will the state rise up to the challenges of nurturing its talents?
Mst. Mithila khatun
Student
Department of Sociology
Govt. Azizul Haque College, Bogura.
mithila6596@gmail.com
