Private university and higher education

Private universities now occupy a significant position in the sphere of higher education in Bangladesh. Over the years these institutions moved from being filler in the vacuum created by dearth of seats in public universities. Still private university education is frowned upon. Dr Nurul Islam, Vice Chancellor of the Eastern University says, 'there is no education as private education, no invidious distinction per se between private and public university education'. Some people say private university students are self-centred, have no social commitments or higher motivation outside their worldly wise pursuit of knowledge. Such observations are not correct. They have their own sense of social responsibilities. People pay taxes and from their money the government subsidises the education of students of public universities. But an overwhelming number of students now study in private universities who - likewise being tax payers' children - also deserve a fair share of government's education grants, subsidies, scholarships and other facilities. Dr Carmen Z Lamana, Vice-Chancellor of AIUB comments on the private university: "We have to update our draft curriculum to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for approval. It takes five to six months to get them approved- thanks to all the bureaucratic tangles and red tape. So by the time a curriculum is approved, another updating in quick succession becomes necessary. Such a booming sector cannot be left ignored and unattended." Some 200,000 students are currently studying in private universities. Several misconceptions exist regarding private university. Private universities in Bangladesh are not a substitute for the public ones and they stand on their own credentials now. There was a time when students opted for private universities because of their failure to enrol at public universities but things have changed now proving the growing significance and standard of private universities. Private universities with their state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern curricula can produce world class professionals. This sector is saving billions of taka in terms of foreign exchange. Now a private university, of necessity, have a permanent campus of its own. But procuring land, arranging finance and completing construction work need time. There should be an accreditation council to check the performance of private universities and ensure quality education. The government should play an enabling role rather than a regulatory one in dealing with private universities Private universities are blamed for not doing adequate research work as is mandatory for a university. This is not actually done in public universities either, primarily due to lack of fund. Many private universities do not have permanent faculty members hampering quality education. This is a case which should be considered by private university authorities. Humanities subjects, history and pure science should be introduced in private universities. This can remove the tag of pure money-making ventures. Today, 85 per cent students of Bangladesh do not receive university education. So, we should try to open the doors of higher education for more and more local students and also from neighbouring countries without compromising the quality. In the interest of quality education, the government may think of establishing a separate body like the University Grants Commi-ssion to ensure research and better academic performance in private universities. The writer is Program Manager, BRAC and can be reached at email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com