Dhaka University’s latest plan to reassess the number of seats in the name of improving the quality of education and creating skilled human resources has been eliciting mixed reactions from academics.
While some educationists say it will be realistic given the condition of infrastructure and number of teachers, others say reducing student intake is not the answer. Rather increasing facilities and introducing the latest popular subjects should be the focus in ensuring quality education.
A special meeting of the Deans Committee of Dhaka University on January 5 recommended bringing down 1,000 seats for freshers’ enrolment from the next academic year. They said the existing number of seats is not sustainable with the DU’s infrastructure.
The proposal is waiting for approval from the Academic Council.
Reacting to the proposal, some academics said the process will not be feasible if facilities are not expanded and the syllabus is not revised.
While there is a need to introduce classrooms with modern facilities to keep pace with advancing science and technology, there is also a need to reform the assessment system of students in the classroom.
On the other hand, the university administration says that the decision was taken to provide “Need Based Education” and to build a research centre and skilled manpower to cater to the country's demand.
Despite the introduction of new departments and institutes over time, infrastructural facilities and the number of teachers have not increased in the university proportionately, said Prof ASM Maksud Kamal, pro vice-chancellor (academic) of Dhaka University.
“The solution to this crisis lies in a rearrangement of seats where demanding subjects will have higher number of student intake while a fewer number of freshers will be taken for low demanding subjects,” he said.
The professor added that subjects that are popular in the job market will be given priority in the process.
On the other hand, former vice chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique said many students will be deprived of the chance to study at the country’s apex institution if the number of seats is reduced.
“For expansion of infrastructure and bringing balance into the ratio of teachers and students, the university needs to appoint more teachers first. Then it should address the infrastructural weakness through financial support from the government.” he said.
“You need to make the right decision either by reducing the number of students or by increasing the opportunities available,” he said.
He suggested that whatever the decision is, the opportunity for education should not slide at Dhaka University.
Meanwhile, former pro vice-chancellor (academic) Prof Nasrin Ahmed said there are some superfluous subjects being taught at DU for a long period of time.
“It is now important to talk about why we are not getting the opportunity to modernize the subjects. The discussion should focus on the importance of keeping subjects like Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit, History, or History of Islam at the postgraduate level in public universities,” she said.
She suggested integrating subjects like social work, sociology and political science in the university.
Currently, around 18,000 students are studying Persian language and literature, Urdu, Sanskrit and Pali subjects at Dhaka University with more than 50 officers and employees, including teachers.
Former chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof Nazrul Islam mentioned that another separate campus of Dhaka University may be opened to meet the demand and solve the problem.
“It is fine if reducing the number of students can increase the quality of education. However, the authorities must ensure the quality of education. They also have to come up with specific plans in this regard,” said Prof Nazrul Islam.
About 36,000 students are currently studying in 83 departments under 13 faculties of Dhaka University.