TIB stands by report on pvt universities

FE Report | Published: July 03, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

In the face of the government's refutation of the report that indicated education commerce at private universities, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) stood by its findings as it said their qualitative research followed scientific processes.
In a clarification issued Wednesday, the TIB said they had no intention to humiliate any individual or institution and push the students studying at the private universities at risks in their academic life.
"The main objective of the study is to bring good governance in the higher educational system," it said.
The local chapter of the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) made public Monday the findings of its study report on "Private universities' challenge of good governance and ways to overcome". It made headlines and provoked a hail of criticisms by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the University Grants Commissions (UGC).
According to the study findings, the country's private universities were found involved in transactions of illegal money from getting approval for operation to distribution of certificates.
The findings also have it that corrupt quarters were involved in giving approval to private universities, appointment of their high officials, including vice-chancellors, and false certificate in exchange for illegal money in what was dubbed by critics as education commerce.
It also said some officials at the education ministry, the UGC and private universities colluded with one another in the unholy cycle of corrupt practices.
Following the study report, both the MoE and the UGC came down heavily on the TIB's report, terming it unrealistic and impossible.
The education minister at a meeting also expressed his dismay, saying the TIB had been working for the last two years for making the report but they did not discuss the matter with the ministry.
In its clarification, the TIB said the findings were made based on information from 22 select private universities, the MoE, the UGC, the Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB), Vice-chancellors, teachers, administrative officers, students and guardians from 2012 to 2014.
It said the MoE claimed that TIB did never consult them. But TIB researchers on several occasions discussed the issue with the ministry and UGC officials.
"The researchers also communicated with them through mobile phone and SMS in analyzing the information they received from them. Lastly, the UGC authorities provided written information to the TIB on June 27 last," the statement said.
Hailing the latest move of the UGC to form a probe committee on this matter, the watchdog agency (TIB) expressed its hope that all the stakeholders in the private university sector should take effective and strict measures to overcome the deficiency in governance without wasting time.