University teachers
Monday, 16 July 2007
OUT of the total number of teachers of the Dhaka University, a good many of them, according to reports in the media, were either staying abroad without authorisation or found to be too dedicated to their assignments at private universities and other assignments. Can such teachers do their jobs in publicly-funded academic institutions in view of the fact that the picture is not a typical one of Dhaka University alone. The situation in varying degrees is similar also to that of other public universities, medical colleges and publicly-run specialised institutes of higher education.
What can be an effective strategy to check this malaise? It appears that the first thing in order is to create a proper motivational atmosphere for the teachers of public universities and institutions. Compared to the much better paid teachers at private universities, their salaries are still found to be substantially lower in comparison even after several revisions.
Thus, the salaries of teachers of public universities and institutes must be raised to be at par with the ones in private institutions. After having done this, rules and regulations will have to be made afresh and strictly enforced to prohibit or limit their outside involvement in academic work for a remuneration.
No less important would be devising mechanisms so that the teachers who go abroad feel encouraged to return to the country to resume their teaching activities. It should be absolutely arranged before their leaving on scholarships or other arrangements routed through publicly-run academic institutions, that they would have to return and serve in their own country.
Abu Taher
Shaymoli, Dhaka
What can be an effective strategy to check this malaise? It appears that the first thing in order is to create a proper motivational atmosphere for the teachers of public universities and institutions. Compared to the much better paid teachers at private universities, their salaries are still found to be substantially lower in comparison even after several revisions.
Thus, the salaries of teachers of public universities and institutes must be raised to be at par with the ones in private institutions. After having done this, rules and regulations will have to be made afresh and strictly enforced to prohibit or limit their outside involvement in academic work for a remuneration.
No less important would be devising mechanisms so that the teachers who go abroad feel encouraged to return to the country to resume their teaching activities. It should be absolutely arranged before their leaving on scholarships or other arrangements routed through publicly-run academic institutions, that they would have to return and serve in their own country.
Abu Taher
Shaymoli, Dhaka