Proposed act to 'make pvt 'varsities even more dependent on UGC'
FE Report | Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) has requested the government to repeal the proposed "Private University Act 2008" which, it said, has been designed to increase the control of government authorities over privately-run universities.
"The proposed act contains certain clauses which will make these private universities even more dependent on the University Grants Commission (UGC) as well as the Accreditation Council," APUB Vice Chairman Abul Quasem Haider said at a press conference Tuesday.
"The proposed 'Private University Act 2008' is intended to bind the private universities by the same restrictions, complications and red tape which have prevented the public universities from conducting innovative education, training and research," Haider observed.
"Even some clauses," Haider said, "would result in the standard of private universities declining to the level of private colleges run under the government MPO although unlike those private colleges, the private universities don't receive any government grant".
"Therefore, we urge the government to repeal the proposed 'Private University Act 2008' and to uphold the preceding 'Private University Act 1992 (amended in 1998) with necessary amendments and modifications," he added.
Highlighting the contributions of the private universities to the country's higher education achievement, Haider informed that an estimated 124,000 students are enrolled in 51 private universities in the country.
Speakers also lauded the launching of the new innovative degree programmes like Hotel Management, Biotechnology and Graphics Designing as well as the introduction of the semester system, which is now being adapted by many public universities.
Vice-Chancellor of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) M Aminullah Miyan also spoke on the occasion. Chairmen of a number of private universities were present at the programme.
"The proposed act contains certain clauses which will make these private universities even more dependent on the University Grants Commission (UGC) as well as the Accreditation Council," APUB Vice Chairman Abul Quasem Haider said at a press conference Tuesday.
"The proposed 'Private University Act 2008' is intended to bind the private universities by the same restrictions, complications and red tape which have prevented the public universities from conducting innovative education, training and research," Haider observed.
"Even some clauses," Haider said, "would result in the standard of private universities declining to the level of private colleges run under the government MPO although unlike those private colleges, the private universities don't receive any government grant".
"Therefore, we urge the government to repeal the proposed 'Private University Act 2008' and to uphold the preceding 'Private University Act 1992 (amended in 1998) with necessary amendments and modifications," he added.
Highlighting the contributions of the private universities to the country's higher education achievement, Haider informed that an estimated 124,000 students are enrolled in 51 private universities in the country.
Speakers also lauded the launching of the new innovative degree programmes like Hotel Management, Biotechnology and Graphics Designing as well as the introduction of the semester system, which is now being adapted by many public universities.
Vice-Chancellor of the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) M Aminullah Miyan also spoke on the occasion. Chairmen of a number of private universities were present at the programme.