Reforming the NU
Thursday, 9 October 2008
WE are happy to hear that the government is planning to improve academic and administrative performance of the National University (NU). The government, it is reported, is planning to constitute a high-powered committee and two working groups comprising representatives from various stakeholders for the purpose.
Though an affiliating university for all the colleges providing honours and masters level studies since its inception in 1992, the NU has been overburdened with things to make a negative image for itself. Among them are sessions jams, teacher shortages, low quality of teaching, question paper leakages, copying in examinations, underhand dealings by the university administration and teachers etc. The NU, offering the platform of higher education to 80 per cent of the country's students is liked by no one.
It is indeed a sick institution. Although allegations of malpractices and irregularities surfaced against the NU from time to time, the authorities concerned failed to take any tangible step to address these issues.
Would the caretaker government care to improve the operational performance of the NU? The formation of a committee is not enough as the previous governments did waste time. All the governments failed to attach due importance to this university. The NU provides the option of higher education to so many students, particularly in the rural and semi-urban areas. The government should properly monitor its activities with due seriousness. It is necessary to appoint a distinguished academic, without leanings, to run the university, improve its curriculum and arrange for the teachers' training. Steps are needed to purge the university off corrupt elements and remove the irregularities. Does the caretaker government really care to do the needful?
Ahmed Hossain
Dhanmandi R/A, Dhaka
Though an affiliating university for all the colleges providing honours and masters level studies since its inception in 1992, the NU has been overburdened with things to make a negative image for itself. Among them are sessions jams, teacher shortages, low quality of teaching, question paper leakages, copying in examinations, underhand dealings by the university administration and teachers etc. The NU, offering the platform of higher education to 80 per cent of the country's students is liked by no one.
It is indeed a sick institution. Although allegations of malpractices and irregularities surfaced against the NU from time to time, the authorities concerned failed to take any tangible step to address these issues.
Would the caretaker government care to improve the operational performance of the NU? The formation of a committee is not enough as the previous governments did waste time. All the governments failed to attach due importance to this university. The NU provides the option of higher education to so many students, particularly in the rural and semi-urban areas. The government should properly monitor its activities with due seriousness. It is necessary to appoint a distinguished academic, without leanings, to run the university, improve its curriculum and arrange for the teachers' training. Steps are needed to purge the university off corrupt elements and remove the irregularities. Does the caretaker government really care to do the needful?
Ahmed Hossain
Dhanmandi R/A, Dhaka