Photo : TDM
The main purpose of educational institutions should be to share knowledge among society and provide quality education. During British period, some major educational institutions were established through the direct patronize of the than landlords. Today's prominent educational institutions of Bangladesh are the result of their efforts and support.
Those who assisted at that time did not have the primary intention of doing business from this field. Over time, the nature of educational institutions has changed in Bangladesh, with several types of institutions including government, non-government, and semi-government establishments. According to the UGC, currently there are a total of 114 private universities, out of which around 100 are in operation. On the contrary, there are 52 government universities. In terms of number, government universities are fewer than half of private universities. Due to the scarcity of seats in government universities, a significant portion of students who have passed higher secondary education each year opt for higher education from private universities.
The number of students studying in private universities is almost three lakh. According to the media reports, on July 31, Bangladesh Association of Private Universities in its executive meeting have unanimously decided to switch to a tri-semester system per year from dual semester. Not only that, a committee was formed for smooth transformation for those universities that were still operating with a two-semester system, While some government universities like Dhaka, Jahangirnagar, Chattogram and other universities still operate on a yearly system, newly established government universities and private universities have adopted a two-semester system per year.
On the other hand, the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh has also provided clear guidelines to conduct education with a two-semester system. This decision of private universities for running tri-semester in a year is not welcome by everyone and has raised concerns among educators and students alike. Certainly, it's likely that the decision is driven by the financial interests of the owners and administrators of private universities. In Bangladesh, the majority of students come from middle-income families, and a significant portion of them might not afford the cost of three semesters per year. The educational expenses could increase due to the extra semester, and this might not be a good news for students and their families.
The decision might seem to cater more to the financial interests of the institutions rather than the educational well-being of the students. It's important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of such changes in the education system. While the universities might see financial gains, it's crucial to ensure that the quality of education and the well-being of the students are not compromised. In general, to complete a regular degree from a private university, it usually costs around Tk8 to Tk10 lakh and sometimes it can go up to Tk15 to 20 lakh. While there might be doubts about the quality of education increasing after completing three semesters, the expense will increase by 4 to 5 lakh compared to the previous cost, this is because a new semester means new enrollment, new semester fees, and various other fees that come out from the students' pockets. Going against the decision of the University Grants Commission, such a decision is never friendly to education. The management of two semesters per year, both teachers and students have to struggle. Where within 365 days, about 70 to 80 days are government holidays, including two Eids and winter vacation.
Besides, if Fridays and Saturdays are also off, there are an additional 50 to 60 shut down. Furthermore, there is a semester break after each semester, which altogether results in almost half a year of closure. Additionally, according to UGC regulations, there are around 30 classes per course in a semester. For completing a course, a student must sit for Mid-semester exams, assignments, and presentations. Then there's the final exam to be taken. In one semester, there will definitely be not just one course, but at least four or five courses. In a situation where it already takes six months to complete a semester, it's hard to imagine how all these tasks can be accomplished within four months. Moreover, for teachers, it's not just about teaching classes; they also have to evaluate exams, conduct research, and perform various other tasks.
So, if the semester ends in four months, the question arises about how much the students can truly learn from a course. Indeed, apart from a few private universities, there are various concerns about the quality of education among the remaining institutions. Where three semesters will lead the education standard into a question, it was necessary to take the opinions of students and teachers before making such decisions, as both students and teachers are the lifeblood of an institution. Such decisions could potentially harm education, conversations must be held with students and teachers regarding this matter and UGC should interfere otherwise both the quality of education and the money spent, will be wasted.
TDM/FMT
