In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in reports of discontent and protests emanating from various public university campuses in Bangladesh, primarily revolving around the persisting issue of sexual harassment and misconduct by teachers. This distressing scenario, compounded by administrative delays and harassment, has significantly impacted the lives of female students. This is all evident from suicide notes too.
To break free from this recurring cycle, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of professional ethics and training in the teacher recruitment process. In our cultural context, it is not uncommon for teachers to engage in inappropriate relationships with students, which has unfortunately become somewhat normalized. However, on a global scale, there must be a strictly professional dynamic between teachers and students, as outlined in the code of conduct for professional ethics. If a teacher makes advances suggestive of a romantic relationship, causing discomfort in any way, it is imperative to be able to file a complaint against the teacher and take action immediately. Embracing professional ethics marks the fundamental cornerstone of the teaching profession.
What if both the teacher and the student are willing participants? Even in such cases, it remains a breach of professional ethics. Student consent holds no validity in this scenario due to the substantial negative network effect associated with such relationships. Beyond the immediate parties involved, other students are also adversely affected, being deprived of fair opportunities and a conducive learning environment. Students are subjected to harassment, leading to disruption in the educational atmosphere. To safeguard the sanctity of the educational environment within universities, the establishment of venues for teachers' dating students should be prohibited. Without structural reforms, we cannot extricate ourselves from this predicament.
On university campuses, legal changes are necessary to prevent discrimination and harassment based on race, religion, gender, and regionalism. A few years ago, a teacher at Dhaka University made a troubling statement on TV regarding a prohibition order related to harassment, saying, “If I want, I can fall in love with ten undergraduate girls, what's the problem?” Such statements are not acceptable in civilized society.
In Bangladesh, especially in public universities, there is essentially no professional boundary between teachers and students. Without a code of ethics related to policies, we cannot break free from this primitive and unprofessional culture. I strongly advocate for the implementation of a code related to professional ethics. “Code” does not mean mere social norms or hearsay. It refers to established policies enacted through legal processes by bodies like the UGC and the government. Civilized countries have laws to protect the university environment, and we also need to regulate our laws accordingly. Many private universities in Dhaka have successfully established professional ethics. If public universities want to improve, they can certainly learn from them.
Academic professional ethics will delineate the rights of teachers, students, and administrators on campus. It will be considered a boundary violation when a certain threshold is reached, and appropriate punitive measures will be taken against violators. Each university will have a dedicated cell for handling these policies, where individuals can directly report their problems. The entire reporting process will be conducted with professional confidentiality. Utilizing digital means for reporting problems will likely yield more effective results compared to in-person channels. Solutions will be reached within seven days.
Here are my proposals:
Non-discriminatory behaviour
- All individuals are prohibited from engaging in discriminatory behaviour based on religion, gender, income level, or any other criteria.
- For instance, if a teacher makes derogatory remarks like, "girls will only be housewives," students can promptly file complaints through digital platforms for violation of the ethical code. Similarly, if a student harasses a teacher based on gender or any other criterion, appropriate action will be taken.
- Implementing user-friendly digital complaint platforms will alleviate concerns about reporting.
Maintenance of professional relationships
- Teachers and administrators are required to uphold professional relationships with all students.
- Any instances of unprofessional behaviour, harassment, or sexual misconduct by teachers towards students will result in immediate action. There will be no lenient or humorous arrangements like "holiday with pay," and individuals found guilty of such misconduct will face dismissal.
- Conversely, students who harass teachers will face consequences, and teachers will have the right to file complaints. Students will also have the opportunity to challenge their results, ensuring accountability.
- Emphasizing the presence of cameras during interviews will underscore the need for transparency.
Mandatory professional training
- All newly recruited teachers and administrators will undergo mandatory professional training.
- This training will clarify acceptable conduct and establish boundaries, particularly regarding sexual harassment, which can be challenging to discern in our cultural context.
- Standardizing knowledge and behaviour through comprehensive training from the outset of employment is crucial.
Addressing the root cause of the "teacher hooliganism" culture in Bangladesh necessitates reforms in the teacher recruitment process. The prevalent practice of prioritizing undergraduate/master's degree holders in recruitment perpetuates this culture, often favouring academically weaker candidates. Directly tying job recruitment to departmental academic performance only exacerbates the issue. Implementing transparent and merit-based recruitment practices is paramount to restoring integrity to the system and preventing further deterioration.
Aparna Howlader, Phd is Assistant Professor of Economics, Chatham University, Pittsburgh, USA.
