Unauthorised private colleges are springing up like mushrooms in the port city without meeting the Chittagong Education Board’s requirements, and are making brisk business in the name of education.
Many of the mushrooming institutions are also realising extra fees and other charges from the students under the guise of admissions.
Of them, colleges in Muradpur, Bahaddarhat, Pahartali, Halishahar, Agrabad, Colonelhat and its neighbouring areas are mentionable.
Some are even running their academic activities in coaching centres, commercial buildings and the basements of several multistoried buildings, clearly violating the rules and regulations of the education board.
Under the board, there are a total of 195 colleges with a capacity of 90,000 seats for future students.
Close to 100,000 students passed the SSC exam this year under the education board.
Board sources said about 50 unapproved colleges have mushroomed in different strategic parts of the city cashing in on the seat crisis in government colleges.
Eight private colleges have been set up within one square kilometre of Chawkbazar and its adjoining areas, while two other popular government colleges – Chittagong College and Haji Muhammad Mohsin College – run their academic activities under the Chawkbazar police station.
The unauthorised colleges have plastered colorful posters on walls, electricity-poles and lamp-posts with banners and festoons all over the city to attract potential students with lucrative offers.
Academic experts, however, expressed grave concern over education being turned into a profitable business in the country.
In addition, using the names of some of the best teachers from government colleges, coaching centres have developed into colleges only to make a quick buck.
Anwar Hossain Khokon, guardian of an HSC admission seeker, told the Dhaka Tribune that his son has to seek admission in private colleges due to the lack of seats in good colleges.
Referring to the high fees, and other undue charges realised by those private colleges, Mr. Khokon said that concerned authorities should see to it.
When asked about this “education business” of private colleges, Suman Barua, college inspector of the board, said: “We have already published notices in the newspapers for public awareness.
Besides, any student and guardian can visit the education board website and identify the colleges approved by the board.”
“If we receive complaint against any such college from anyone, we will take legal actions against that institute,” he also added.