Universities in Bangladesh are mainly categorised into three different types -government-owned and subsidised, private sector-owned and international (operated and funded by international organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation). The policy-makers and the government bodies like the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC) are giving preferential treatment to the public universities and spending a huge amount of public money on these universities.
But a clear discrimination is visible in case of treating the private universities. A section of intellectuals holds a negative view and often tries to brand the private universities as academic certificate-selling business houses. There is no doubt that a number of private universities have already failed to cope with academic compliance factors and provide facilities needed for smooth functioning of academic activities. These have also failed to meet conditions set for establishing universities in the private sector, such as having own campus, library, number of full-time faculty etc. Interestingly, the same complaints are there against a number of public universities situated in different parts of the country. If we try to look into the matter impartially, some private universities are also making positive contribution to human resource development, social and overall macro-economic development of the country.
Stages of economic development shift employment and demand from primary sector to tertiary sector. Bangladesh, like other underdeveloped countries, was initially dependant on agriculture but gradually the secondary sector is now dominating the economy. As the economy is progressing to the higher tier, there is a growing demand for qualified human capital. As a government policy and also as a part of Millennium Development Goals, Bangladesh has emphasised the need for investing in primary education. Primary education is free for all in Bangladesh. Child labour is prohibited; attending primary schools is mandatory for all. The government is even interested to make secondary education free like primary level. Every year a growing number of students are passing SSC and HSC. As a result of the government action, school dropout rate is lower than earlier times. Budget constraints, along with growing requirement of higher studies, have resulted in compromising with improvement of human capital of the country.
On the other hand, economic progress has also created demand for university graduates in different disciplines. Especially there is a high demand for business graduates for multinational companies, local corporate giants, banks, insurance and leasing companies. Established in 1966, the Institute of Business Administration under the Dhaka University was the only producer of business graduates and managers for local and multinational corporate bodies but it was not possible for the lone business institute to meet the growing demand.
PERFORMANCE OF PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES: Establishing universities in the private sector is a tremendous job and improving quality without any government support is extremely difficult. As usual, some of the private universities have lost track only to be caught up in mismanagement. Lack of strict supervision on academic issues by the UGC has spread the allegation of certificate-selling by the private universities. These types of irregularities are also seen in other parts of the world. Many European and North American countries have blacklisted a large number of universities in the private sector as these sold certificates to foreign students. But at the same time, most world-renowned universities like Harvard, John Hopkins, Princeton, Barkley and MIT are all private universities. In the USA, private universities are more prestigious than public universities and admission requirements are more competitive than those in public universities.
With a few exceptions, private universities are doing extremely well. A study has shown that their contribution to nation-building is greater than that of public universities. As a tacit recognition of this, national and multinational organisations are more inclined to recruit business graduates from private universities than the public ones. Though the best qualified students are enrolled in public universities, comparatively less qualified students pass out from private universities with better quality and better placement. And it is expected if the trend continues, the private university graduates will dominate the job market in future.
In many countries, there is no existence of private educational institutions. Especially the socialist countries provide education with public sources and they do not allow private education. Even some social welfare-oriented countries of Europe like Sweden, Germany and Norway offer free education. To some extent, the logic behind providing education only through public sources is justified because education is merit goods and if provided by private sources, quality might be compromised.
FOREIGN STUDIES: After two decades of liberation, the country started experiencing high population growth as well as economic development. The movements in both the macroeconomic factors started creating pressure for more educational facilities and also for higher education at universities as the number of students passing HSC was gradually increasing and most of them were keen on higher studies. But public universities along with some university colleges failed to accommodate them due to severe shortage of seat capacity as well as residential facilities. The situation forced a large number of students to choose foreign universities in early eighties. Their first preference was the USA and the UK because of potential job opportunities after graduation. The next choice was India and other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia. Recently Australia has become popular study destination for Bangladeshi students.
Studying in a foreign country is difficult on many considerations. First of all, expenditure of studying in a foreign university is very high, compared to our local universities. Students need to bear other expenses as well such as travel, boarding, buying books and foods etc which they don't need to bear while studying in local universities because normally they stay with their parents or relatives. Even those who are coming from rural areas can arrange hostel or mess facilities at a low cost than staying in foreign countries. Next to it is the lengthy process of foreign admission. Most of the time they require to produce specific admission test scores like TOEFL, GMAT and GRE. In some cases, it becomes difficult for the average students to achieve those. In addition to admission requirements, students need to face visa formalities and have to prove their financial ability to continue and complete their studies. The process in some cases takes two years to complete which is 50 per cent of the time for graduation degree completion.
In India, cost of study is comparatively cheaper than that of European and North American countries but much higher than that of our local universities because Bangladeshi students are charged higher tuition fees as foreign students. The scope for foreign education is very limited and only a smaller fraction of the student community can avail the facility after spending a lot of time, money and energy.
So the last option was to establish good universities in the private sector. Initially, some experienced educationists came forward to set up universities in the private sector and ground realities forced the government to allow universities in private sector. The Private University Act was passed in 1992.
Establishing a private university and turning it as a renowned one is subject to time, investment, dedicated work force and commitment towards utmost excellence in providing higher education. Naturally some of the universities fail to cope with the environment and face setbacks. So far the private universities face severe competition which the public universities never face and to some extent, Charles Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest is applicable here. In the process, a number of universities are lagging behind but it is quite true that private universities are playing very important roles in developing human resources, saving huge amount of foreign exchange, public money for providing education after paying taxes and contributing to areas of socio-economic development of the country.
CPD FINDINGS AND THE ROLE OF UGC: A recent study of the Centre for policy Dialogue (CPD) has criticised gross irregularities in a number of private universities and especially the unexpected profit motive of the directors or founders of these universities. In no way can anybody challenge this fact because all of us know it is true. But at the same time, the question arises how it is happening. Because all types of universities, whether these are public or private, are licensed and permitted to work. These are bound to abide by all regulations and instructions regarding grading system and recruitment of faculty and any other directives when instructed by the UGC.
But in spite of strict rules and regulations of the UGC, some unscrupulous profit-hungry founder-directors are continuing their businesses under the cover of trustee boards. The UGC on many occasions expressed its helplessness in this regard citing manpower shortage. It is running short of manpower to monitor and supervise the activities of universities spread all over the country. To monitor the day-to-day activities and force the universities to abide by all the rules and regulations need a large number of skilled workforce.
Continuously using the excuse of manpower shortage, the UGC is avoiding its major responsibility of monitoring and regulating the activities of the universities. As a result, it allows the dishonest business-minded trustee board members to continue gross irregularities in private universities and make quick money. On the other hand, due to this the private universities of good standing are also categorised and treated in the same manner. But these universities are contributing to the real cause of development of human resources. Concerned authorities like the Education Ministry and the UGC should extend support and cooperation to them as they are doing in case of public universities. At present, they are paying taxes to the exchequer but in return they are denied any government support needed for their smooth growth.
The writer, who holds MBA, M Phil, teaches at the Royal University of Dhaka. seahsan@gmail.com
Challenges for private universities in Bangladesh
Syed Ejaz Ahsan | Published: July 05, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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