Nahid blames public universities

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday told parliament that the authorities of public universities were not interested in holding election to student unions.

The government insists on holding the elections, but it cannot force the university authorities because these institutions are totally autonomous and operate independently, he said.

Nahid came up with the remarks when several opposition bench lawmakers criticised the government for not taking measures to hold the student union elections of public universities for decades.

They also wanted to know why election to student unions like Dhaka University Central Student Union has been stalled after 1990.

Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman said the country was not getting meritorious and competent leaders at national level due to this.

Another JP lawmaker, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, said congenial atmosphere would prevail at public universities if the elections were held on a regular basis.

In reply, Nahid said it was not realistic that the ministry would force the election upon the universities. The institution authorities should come spontaneously and confidently to do this, he added. He also criticised lawmakers for not taking initiatives to hold election to student unions in local colleges.

“As the chairman of management committees of educational institutions, you are much interested in appointing principals and teachers in schools and colleges in your areas. But you don't show any interest to hold student union elections there,” he said.

Meanwhile, in reply to a question, Nahid said action would be taken against the teachers who use mobile phone in classrooms. “If we find information that any teacher uses mobile phone in the classroom, we'll take action.”

Nahid also mentioned that the education ministry had issued a directive three years ago in this regard, and they had already taken action against some teachers.

In reply to another question, he claimed that the government had brought the incidents of question leak during public examinations and "coaching business" under control to some extent. He also said the government could not stop "coaching business" fully because school and college teachers were also involved in this. “That's why we've placed a bill in parliament. If you pass it, it'll be possible to take legal action in this regard.”

Responding to a query, he said the flood-ravaged educational institutions would be repaired after getting funds from the finance division.

Meanwhile, Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman yesterday told the House that the government would be able to complete repairs of all rundown primary school buildings, including those damaged by flood, before June 2018.