The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Sunday sent letters to 45 public universities asking for lists of students who will need assistance to buy smartphones so that they may attend online classes.
The letter signed by UGC Public University Management Department Director, Prof Kamal Hossain, asked the vice-chancellors of the universities to send “accurate lists” to the email address [email protected] by August 25, according to a UGC statement.
The UGC also sent two other letters to the public universities, asking that they ensure their teachers take permission before working with other educational institutions and to properly spend funds allocated for research.
Free internet packages and soft loans
Following the suspension of classes at all educational institutions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, online classes were launched at public universities. However, most of the universities could not implement online classes properly as many students lack the means to attend them.
The UGC on June 25 decided to ensure free internet packages and smartphones for impoverished students under soft loans and grant schemes.
Public university teachers need permission, spend research funds properly
The UGC has urged public universities to ensure that their teachers follow service rules and take permission before involving themselves with other educational institutions or businesses.
The commission said it has learnt that some teachers are continuously violating service rules and conditions and requested that vice-chancellors ensure the implementation of service rules and compliance with the code of conduct.
The UGC also warned it had learnt that some universities were not spending their research funds on research activities and urged the universities concerned to stop the violations.
All funds allocated for research must only be spent on selected research projects, the UGC statement said.
