Mentioning the several initiatives in the country to continue uninterrupted academic activities virtually amid the coronavirus situation, Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said Bangladesh’s education sector is far ahead.
She made the remark during a virtual discussion on Thursday arranged by Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) to mark the National Mourning Day.
The minister praised the role of private universities during Covid-19 pandemic to continue academic activities.
“We are trying hard with public universities [to conduct online classes]. Higher secondary classes are going on online and secondary level learning programs are being televised,” she said.
Dipu Moni added: “We are still trying to make the process acceptable to all the students which can touch their heart. A private organization is making content according to NCTB curriculum.”
“Our multifaceted initiatives for the education sector have led Bangladesh ahead during the pandemic situation as we are moving forward with the ideology of Bangabandhu,” she remarked.
Emphasizing on the importance of arts education, she said: “Without arts the education will never be complete.”
Dipu Moni said: “Our higher education should not only provide knowledge but also prepare the students for the job market to help them earn their livelihood.”
“Without research or innovation, there is no meaning of a university. Many people claim that there is a lack of funds. But in Bangladesh, the government is allocating funds for research which is unavailable in many other countries,” she mentioned.
“Researchers, teachers have to conduct quality research so that they can get funded from other organizations,” she furthered.
Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel criticised the role of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia for giving less priority to education.
“The educational system was getting cheaper in their tenure instead of making it skill based,” he said.
“Producing knowledge should be the aim of private universities, not investment. Without thinking about the job market, we have to educate our people with realistic education and turn them into efficient manpower,” Nowfel added.
Prof Kazi Shahidullah, chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) discussed Bangabandhu’s focus on educational development by nationalization of schools and colleges, providing autonomy to the then existing universities.
“Bangabandhu gave endless freedom of thinking and implementing to the university teachers,” he said.
Prof Mesbahuddin Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Accreditation Council, said Bangabandhu always prioritized the educational sector, and there is no sector left where he did not take any initiative to develop.
“When he started constructing the nation, the killers took his life,” he said.
The discussion was presided over by APUB and also Fareast International University Chairman Sheikh Kabir Hossain. AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, deputy minister for Water Resources, also executive member of APUB, spoke among others.
APUB consists of 106 UGC approved private universities of the country.
