The cabinet has given the final approval to the draft of "The Accreditation Council Law, 2016" aiming to ensure quality of higher education, particularly the university education, in Bangladesh.
The approval was given at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters.
He said the approval of the draft law was given to meet an aspiration of the Ministry of Education for quality higher education in the country.
He said according to the draft law, a 13-member council would be constituted headed by the chairman along with 4 full time and 8 part time members. The council would accomplish all the responsibilities of ensuring quality of higher education in the country, he said.
About qualification of the chairman and members, the cabinet secretary said they must have 25 years of experience in teaching at public universities along with minimum 10 years of teaching experience as professor.
Among the eight part time members, he said, one would be nominated by the University Grants Commission, one by the government holding the status of joint secretary, president of the association of the private universities in Bangladesh or a representative of the association, an expert of a recognised foreign accreditation agency and a representative of a related professional organisation to be nominated by the government.
Besides, an industry entrepreneur of the FBCCI, an expert in education administration and an ICT expert both to be nominated by the government would also be the part time members of the council, he added.
Explaining the responsibilities of the council, Alam said, its main work would be to issue or suspend or cancel the confidence certificate or accreditation certificate given by higher educational institutions aimed at ensuring quality higher education.
Accreditation of the higher educational institutions of the country and their activities on accreditation as well as formation of a separate accreditation committee for every discipline following the application of various higher educational institutions are also under jurisdiction of the council, he said.
Besides, it would fix up the conditions for giving accreditation or confidence certificates.
The cabinet secretary added that the council would also work to earn international recognition on accreditation through inter-state-level discussion and mutual discussion with the international organisations.
Moreover, it would provide inspiration for all concerned as well as arrange seminar, symposium and necessary training, development and campaign programmes on accreditation.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
