The government plans to bring graduate-level colleges under the academic monitoring of public universities to improve the quality of education.
As part of the initiative, the government wants newly established public universities to monitor the academic activities of colleges, including the improved curriculum, teacher recruitment, and research of government colleges, without initially conducting undergraduate (honours) courses.
At present, seven colleges are under Dhaka University, with plans underway for all honours-level colleges of Chittagong and Rajshahi to soon come under Chittagong and Rajshahi University, according to a high-level source in the Education Ministry.
However, education specialists suggest that the government has to amend existing laws to implement this initiative.
In 1992, the BNP-led government established the National University (NU) through the passage of an Act (Act No. 37 of 1992) in Parliament to improve the quality of education.
But educationalists think that the National University could not fulfil its aims and objectives.
Apart from this, there are also questions about the quality of education in colleges affiliated with the National University.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has repeatedly stated in its annual reports that the educational qualifications of graduates from some colleges affiliated with national universities are questionable, and their quality does not meet expectations.
Before the establishment of the National University, undergraduate, postgraduate, and equivalent educational programs were conducted under Dhaka University, Rajshahi University, and Chittagong University in various colleges of the country.
In order to improve the quality of education, the present Awami League-led government also made two attempts to bring government colleges under public universities.
In 2014, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the Ministry of Education to affiliate the government colleges under the National University with the public universities of the respective areas.
Even before that, in 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave directives to revise the academic activities of the National University, but it was not implemented.
Following the directive in 2014, at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the authorities of the public universities agreed to monitor these colleges under their universities.
Although it raised questions among some quarters, as part of the implementation of the government's decision, the Dhaka University authorities brought seven government colleges under their academic monitoring.
While talking to Dhaka Tribune, the teachers of these colleges said that although there were several problems in the beginning, academic progress has appeared now.
In this situation, new Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel reiterated the government decision. He has given instructions to bring government colleges under the public universities concerned at the district level.
Responding to a query, the education minister said before the establishment of the National University, colleges were under the public university. Later, they were taken under the National University.
Now, as the number of colleges has increased and the national university is struggling to meet its target, the minister added.
The education minister further said the new universities will monitor the undergraduate courses of these colleges at the beginning of their educational programs, and the post-graduate courses will also be conducted separately by the university.
He believes that as the new universities get the facilities to build their infrastructure, there will be academic quality changes in these colleges under their monitoring as well.
He cited an example about the academic success of seven colleges under Dhaka University.
According to sources, the education minister has already said in a meeting with the vice-chancellors of public universities that the government will do so if there is a need to amend existing laws to implement the Prime Minister's instructions and suggestions.
The vice-chancellors of all the public universities of the country were present at that meeting and gave their consent to implement the directives of the government without any reservations.
According to the UGC’s last annual report, a total of 2,257 affiliated colleges are under the National University. Around 2.9 million students are studying in higher education in these institutions.
Among them, 583 government colleges and 373 colleges can conduct graduate courses.
When asked about government steps, National University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Moshiur Rahman said if the government colleges are alienated from the National University, about 70% of the students will leave the National University.
However, he thinks that it will bring a big opportunity to improve its quality of education, research, and other activities like other public universities.