The collegiate education, higher education particularly, had been in utter disarray in Bangladesh, both in quality and affiliation, since the partition of 1947 and there had always been an experimental phase due to the indiscretion and injudicious policy. Perhaps nowhere in Asia, the state of higher education is as dire as Bangladesh. After the partition, the responsibility of 55 colleges, which were affiliated to Calcutta University, fell on Dhaka University by a kind of inheritance.

And later, the responsibility of examination and supervision of all college education in the country was distributed to two other universities, Rajshahi and Chittagong. As a result, Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong University were officially assigned to control the examination of all colleges of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong divisions respectively. Khulna division became under supplementary part of Rajshahi University. And it continued till 1992, when the National University was established in a bid to reduce the hassle and procrastination of learners.

Accordingly, those who obtained their degrees would have the name of the university regardless of the college from where they passed. Universities used to spend a lot of time and effort doing this outside of their own academic work. That created indescribable trouble to the life of a huge college-level examinee across time. The National University was created in 1992 for a very good reason: to bring the college level education programmes across the country under one umbrella. However, the scope of the educational programme launched under the supervision of the National University was so great that it became unmanageable to bring under a single authority.

However, as a result of some ill-considered decisions, the strategy of spreading education everywhere threatens the overall higher education. The quality of education was far at a distance due to countless anomalies, including irregularities in the admission process. Countless students were admitted to colleges at that time, but many of them had to face fraud and cheating. They could hardly know about their admission process or even whether they were admitted at all! They were caught before the examination and could finally understand that they were students of nowhere! Additionally, cheating in the examination hall was another detective part of the academic scandal. However, even though that trend has ended, it has not completely disappeared.

In February 2017, seven major colleges were re-affiliated with Dhaka University to improve the quality of education and to reduce the pressure on National University. But the students were found utterly dissatisfied for several reasons, although their earlier bonding was happily enjoyed. Students from seven colleges once started to think of themselves as students at Dhaka University. This sweet love affair turns into sadness within a few days. The students of seven colleges were treated as the stepson of Dhaka University from the beginning, as they alleged. And one of many allegations was that these seven colleges of Dhaka University teachers are a great source of income! This is the biggest defamatory statement on Dhaka University’s part. They have been trying hard for secession for the past several years, but the movement now was intense and violent. Seeing the dire situation, Dhaka University has accepted this separation like a helpless one. The situation was seriously heated up following an unwanted hot talk between Dhaka University Pro-VC and the protestors. As a result, Dhaka University tearfully said goodbye to this affiliation. A little further, UGC has also proposed a name, just like naming a boy before he is born!

The government agreed to build a new university in the face of fierce student protests. Meanwhile, according to this decision, the announcement of the admission circular for the 2024-25 academic year has been cancelled. On the other hand, observing this excessive enthusiasm, Titumir College students have taken a step forward: they are now demanding another independent university for them. It seems like trying to score goals in empty fields.

I am not sure about why the government is now envisioning a new university. Is this a new university just for taking exams or for admitting students for academic functions? Even so, I am not sure if these colleges will be assimilated into the new university, or will there be a new university excluding these colleges? To recall it, these seven colleges have a long history of their own. For example, Dhaka College (established in 1841) is the most reputed college in the country that has a distinct glorious identity. Eden College was established in 1873, which is also very old. Soon after, Kabi Nazrul College was founded in the following year, and its history is by no means to be underestimated. Another serious problem may exasperate the civil cadres because a good number of teachers now in those colleges are safely adopted here.
The time, thought, foresight, manpower, infrastructure, and comparative research required to reinvent a university cannot be solved overnight. Currently, there are a good number of universities in Bangladesh which are only on papers. It should be remembered that a university is not merely an institution for distributing certificates to students, but its biggest function is to offer them an opportunity to learn and do research. This foresight can only save the future of the country’s higher education!
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The writer is a Professor at Jagannath University