Around 30 per cent private universities in the country do not invest a single penny for the research purpose, while rest of such higher learning institutions have also very limited spending, putting the quality of education at bay.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has identified the horrible scenario in the country's higher education sector and expressed its concern terming it the major hurdle in the way for ensuring expected standard in the sector.
The university regulator in its latest report said although the major objective of the higher education is to acquire knowledge, some 19 private universities, out of 68 operating ones, didn't invest any single paisa during the academic year 2012-2013.
The watchdog prepared report based on the academic year 2012-2013, published recently said there is no alternative to ensuring quality schooling, but conducting quality research.
"The commission thinks, no or minimum research is the major hurdle to ensure quality learning," the regulator in its observation said.
According to the report, rest of other 49 universities' combined investment for the research purpose was Tk 583 million during the same period, making an average investment of Tk 11.9 million each in this regard.
Although, increasing private sector contribution to the sector is welcomed by the academics, it has been fetching massive criticism for delivering less standard schooling, thanks to the rising unemployment.
Besides, there is also a massive allegation of certificate business against a section of such institutions. Even, the university regulator has sought president's intervention to control such dishonest universities.
"Unfortunately, some universities are running based on lucrative profit like other business houses, although they were given operating licence for not profit-making," said former Dhaka University (DU) Vice Chancellor Prof Emajuddin Ahmed.
The prominent educationist told the FE that actually, the government has allowed establishment of a good number of universities without knowing their viability, and the present scenario is the outcomes of the previous mistakes.
"Unfortunately, although the universities were provided licences on condition of non-profit operation, majority of the such institutions have been running on profit," the professor noted.
Presently, a total of 78 private universities are running their academic activities in the country, of which a good number of them have been performing excellently. Because of failure to control over a section of the universities, the regulator has issued public notice asking students and their guardians not to enroll in certain universities for their alleged violation of the regulator's rules and regulation.
However, Prof Ahmed identified limited scope for academic research by the private universities as they could not run MPhil and PhD programme, which are mainly based on research.
He also laid stress on strong monitoring by the university regulator. The professor also underscored the need for fixing a percentage of the university's earnings for research purpose. Besides, board of trustees of the private universities should include more academicians. "Unfortunately, such decision -making boards of some universities are run by the owners," he noted.
According to the latest report, there are a total of 2.42 million students at the higher education level. Of them, around 0.21 million are studying at public universities, 0.4 million at private universities, 0.25 million under the Bangladesh Open University, 1.4 million under the National University and 0.25 million at all other affiliated institutions including Madrasah.
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