Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday said that many prominent educationists of the country are not interested in working as vice chancellors (VC) at universities.
She made the comment while discussing the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology, Pirojpur Bill 2022 in Parliament.
“We have highly qualified academics, whom we will be proud to have as vice chancellors. But many of them are not interested in taking on this administrative responsibility because they think of it as a burden," she said.
On Tuesday, Jatiya Party's Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu MP and BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid criticized the VCs of different public universities for various irregularities and corruption.
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“We used to have respect for vice chancellors. But now, after the recent incidents and allegations against them at several universities, we feel the opposite,” Chunnu added.
He also condemned the VCs accused of recruiting their family members through corruption. “Vice chancellors should be appointed without consideration of political party affiliation,” he said.
In response, the education minister said: "There are some criticisms about the activities of the vice chancellors of some universities. Action is also being taken against them.
“However, I don't think it is appropriate to comment on the honourable vice chancellors of all universities.”
The VCs of public universities are appointed on the basis of three criteria – their academic excellence, contribution to research, and leadership experience in teachers’ associations and administrative positions, she explained.
