Don’t go beyond rules: PM to UGC

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) authorities to strictly follow concerned rules in overseeing public and private universities in the country.

“Don’t go beyond the law, and follow rules strictly in overseeing public and private universities of the country,” she said when a delegation of the UGC led by its Chairman Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah called on her at her office here.

After the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.

The prime minister also laid emphasis on increasing monitoring on private colleges affiliated with the universities.

She said UGC will be empowered by formulating a law, and its capacity will be enhanced further.

The UGC chairman said they are strictly following the law in monitoring public and private universities. The delegation apprised the prime minister of the activities of the commission.

Kazi Shahidullah said they have outlined a policy for conducting research at the universities.

“We want a training academy like the Pubilc Administration Training Centre (PATC) for teachers,” he said.

Prof Shahidullah said there are now 155 public and private universities in the country, adding that UGC has identified 30 private universities for various irregularities in running the institutions.

The UGC chairman also stressed the need for increasing manpower of the commission to deal with a large number of institutions, saying they are strung by inadequate manpower.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman and PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan were present at the meeting.