Loyalty to party has become a bigger priority than teaching

University Teachers’ Network, a left-leaning university teachers’ group, yesterday declared that it could provide an alternative proposal by six months to “protect” universities of the country.

Professor Anu Muhammad of Jahangirnagar University made the declaration at a press conference in Dhaka University Teachers’ Club, organised by the platform.

The economics professor alleged that a “polluted environment” has been created in universities across the country due to different irregularities.

A section of public university teachers presented their observations made at the two-day teachers’ convention titled “What kind of university do we want: higher education policy and structure” held on Jahangirnagar University campus on April 11 and 12.

“We speak of increasing allocation to the education and research sector very often. Allocating hundred and thousand crores for different universities is also talked about, and the main characteristic of this budget is building and shopping,” he said.

He said infrastructure allocation is being decided without checking whether that budget is suitable for education or even necessary for teachers and students.

“Without increasing the budget for education and research, a “polluted atmosphere” has been created in universities by increasing allocation [for infrastructure],” added Prof Anu.

Anu Muhammad said that loyalty to the ruling party has become a bigger priority for teachers, hence students’ facilities and research opportunities are facing a threat.

“So all universities need democratic, educational, and research-oriented policies. All universities need to formulate a uniform policy,” he said.

He said there is a tendency of controlling the universities among all ruling parties. As part of that effort, power has been concentrated in the hands of Vice-chancellors, and the pro-government student organisation was given more power.

Samina Luthfa, an associate professor of Sociology department, presented eight crisis points which were identified following the observation of the teachers presented at the convention.

The points include governmental interference, neo-liberalism theory and the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 20-year (2006-2026) strategic plan for higher education, abuse of autonomy, allocation for education and research sector, lack of autonomy in universities, recruitment and admission, accommodation of students and student politics, and issues in private universities.

The teachers’ network recommended an amendment to the Ordinance of 1973, and introducing a democratic and knowledge-oriented conducting policy.

Speaking about private universities, the teachers’ network said that these universities are largely profit-oriented and less interested in achieving quality, and the environment of research has not been developed at all. It is becoming increasingly difficult for meritorious but poor students to study in private universities.

The teachers’ group alleged that party politics is affecting quality of education in public universities while many private universities have become institutions that sell certificates.

Fahmidul Haque, a teacher of mass communication and journalism department of Dhaka University, presented a six-point solution, which includes increased investment in education and research, stopping fee increases every year, stopping commercialisation, dissemination of decision-making power and increasing the number of full-time teachers at private universities.

Apart from this, the group also suggested that the teacher recruitment process based on political identities be stopped, and a rehaul of the admission test system.

Among others, Professor Geetiara Nasrin of mass communication and journalism department; Assistant Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan of international relations; Assistant Professor Rushad Faridi of economics; Prof Kazi Maruf of development studies and Sayeed Ferdous of JU’s anthropology department were present.