Create scope for higher education for rural students
President Zillur Rahman yesterday urged the authorities of private universities to create opportunities of higher education for the children of the country's rural people.
“Many of the country's people are being deprived of the opportunities of higher education,” he said this while he was addressing the 5th convocation of Brac University at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid attended the convocation as the special guest while Professor Martha Alter Chen from Harvard University delivered her speech as the convocation speaker.
Speaking on the occasion, Zillur said that although children of the well-off section living in urban areas are getting opportunities of higher education in private universities, the children of rural people are getting deprived of.
“The main reason is that the guardians cannot afford the educational cost of their children in these private universities,” he said.
Appreciating the Brac University for including some applied subjects in its curricula, the president hoped that students would be able to adjust themselves with learning of new subjects like biotechnology and informational technology.
“I hope such new subjects will play a significant role in building 'Digital Bangladesh' alongside spurring the rural economy,” he said.
Describing universities as centres of excellence, Zillur hoped that the authorities would make sure education is not provided only based on textbooks.
“All the universities through their academic activities will have to prove that we're not lagging behind in providing education of international standard,” he said.
Congratulating the new graduates, Zillur said they will have to utilise the immense potentials of Bangladesh with their wisdom, talents and intelligence.
He hoped that the new graduates would truly contribute to the welfare of the country's mass people being imbued with humanity, patriotism and the spirit of the great War of Liberation.
Addressing the convocation, Nahid said the government is relentlessly working to ensure quality education in all private universities. “The n private university activities,” he said.
Private University Act 2010 is being formulated for bringing transparency and accountability in private university activities,” he said.
Nahid mentioned that the government would provide all-out support to the private universities which would be able to maintain government criteria and provide quality education.
“We want both the public and private universities to provide world-class education,” he said.
Brac University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Jamilur Reza Choudhury and president of its Governing Board Sir Fazle Hasan Abed also spoke on the occasion.
A total of 561 students, including 385 in undergraduate and 176 in graduates, received certificates in the convocation.
Two students -- Nubaha Mahbub of Economics (BSS) and Matthew James Reeve, Master of Public Health -- received the Chancellor's Gold Medal while another 11 students received the Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal at the convocation for their outstanding results.
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