There is no binding rule or law that a university must have professors. But there is also no arguing the fact that a university without professors is like a ship without a captain.
An analysis of available data on the 37 public universities in the country has revealed an alarming picture that several such state-owned autonomous tertiary education providers – mostly newly established and located in the peripheral districts – are running without any professors at all.
There are also other universities where the vice-chancellor is the only professor; and there are still others where the number is less than 10.
For example, the Pabna University of Science and Technology, established seven years ago, does not have any professors for taking classes; the only professor here is the VC, Prof Al-Nakib Chowdhury, who quite understandably cannot take classes because of his administrative duties.
The case is same for the Barisal University, established four years ago, where VC Prof SM Imamul Huq is the only professor.
The Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University in Mymensingh has seven professors; Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur has six; Jessore University of Science and Technology and the Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University in Tangail have three each; Comilla University and the Noakhali Science and Technology University have two each.
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology in Gopalganj has one full-time professor and seven part-timers.
Science universities
The clear pattern that emerges from this data is that the situation is particularly grim in the new science and technology universities.
Seeking anonymity, a teacher of computer science at a public university, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It is a good thing that the government is living up to its ‘digital Bangladesh’ promise by setting up science and technology universities in the remote districts.
“But the reality is that we do not have enough teachers skilled in the information technology field. So, quite understandably, these specialised universities are not getting professors.”
Al-Nakib Chowdhury, VC of the university in Pabna, said: “We are providing standard education. But if there were some senior teachers, we could have ensured even better quality. But our students are doing well. They are competing with Buet students in the job market and going abroad with scholarships.”
Former Buet VC Prof Jamilur Reza Chowhdury said: “Engineering subjects require a lot of laboratory work. So, if there is a lack of teachers, then how can the quality of education be ensured?”
City-town comparison
These figures stand in stark contrast with those from some of the leading public universities located in the major cities.
At Jahangirnagar University located in Savar near Dhaka, the total number of teachers is 657; of them, 209 or 33% are professors. At Dhaka University, around 35% of the total number of teachers are professors.
When compared regionally, the Delhi University in neighbouring India has around 47% professors. Nearly half of the teachers at Calcutta University are professors.
What these figures suggest is that there is a clear unwillingness among experienced teachers to go and teach in the faraway districts particularly because of the lack of facilities and shortage of scopes to earn.
One major reason why public university teachers like to stay in the big metropolitan cities is that they have the opportunity to teach or give consultancy to the private universities for handsome payments.
Moreover, the best schools and colleges of the country are all located in the big cities, and so if they decide to join one of these peripheral public universities, they fear that the education of their children may get hampered.
Lack of infrastructural facilities – such as laboratory, accommodation and library – in some of these new universities also act as repellent for professors.
According to Prof Dil Afroza Begum, member of the University Grants Commission (UGC): “Why would the bright students go to these universities? They stay in the cities, do research, go abroad for PhD degrees. They come back and join the public or private universities or become consultants.”
Role of professors
Asked why there should be enough professors in a university, Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Associations, told the Dhaka Tribune: “There will always be a huge difference between the depth of lectures given by a senior professor and a junior lecturer.
“There is also a question of guiding the junior teachers. If there is no professors this will not happen. Moreover, experienced professors can give valuable guidance in academic coordination and research activities as well,” he added.
UGC member Prof Mohammad Mohabbat Khan said there is a serious lack of foresight on the part of the policymakers.
“For establishing any educational institutions, there must be a long term human resource planning. But in Bangladesh, we establish a university in the face of local demand.”
He also said the senior teachers must also change their mindsets – instead of thinking about their personal gains, they must concentrate on the welfare aspect of their professional responsibilities towards building the state.
Remedy
Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, also an adviser to a former caretaker government, said: “There is no doubt that presence of senior teachers is essential for ensuring quality education. As per UGC rule, a private university must have at least one professor of relevant subject on board before deciding to open a new department. If this can apply for private universities, why not for public universities?”
UGC member Prof Dil Afroza Begum said teaching at universities is not a transferable job. “And so, existing regulations can be changed to make it mandatory for university teachers to spend a certain number of years in the small towns.”
She also prescribed introducing monetary incentives for the teachers if they opt to go to a new university in a faraway district.
