Existing UGC law to be amended soon
M M Jasim :
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is going to be a powerful institution instead of toothless tiger as the government has been working to amend the existing “UGC Law” with the absolute authority to ensure quality education and to take action against any faulty university.
The government has taken the initiative to change some articles of the UGC Law-1973 after the demand from experts of higher education in the country for making it a strong higher education controlling body, Education Ministry sources said.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told The New Nation on Friday that
the existing UGC Law is very old. The ministry has taken initiative to amend the law.
“We have taken opinion from all quarters. The draft law has been made and it will be placed to the Cabinet soon,” the Minister said.
He added: “The UGC Law was enacted in 1973 when only six universities were operating. Now there are 38 public universities and 96 private universities in the country. The Law was amended many times but not sufficient. It is high time to amend the Law and turn it into a modern Law.”
Nahid said that the new law could help the UGC to exercise its appropriate power to run the universities smoothly.
The ministry officials think that the UGC has no power to take action against any irregularities of the public and private universities.
Even it has failed to take any step against those private universities who did certificate business in the name of higher education. It just investigates of an irregularity and gives some recommendations to the ministry, they said.
The officials said the UGC will get enough power after approval of the amended law.
The UGC top bosses have been demanding to make the higher education controlling body autonomous for long. But the governments did not pay any heed in this regard.
As a result, they said, the UGC has become a toothless tiger. “Even some private universities like North South University have been violating the instruction of the UGC.”
The officials said it is impossible to compel the universities to follow the UGC’s direction without the amendment of the Law. They also hailed the government initiative.
UGC Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan told this reporter that the commission had made a draft and submitted it to the Education Ministry.
“We have requested to make the commission strong and modern to ensure quality higher education. We have also requested to form a Higher Education Commission,” the UGC chairman said.
“India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Pakistan have autonomous body to regulate the higher education. The Indian autonomous body can shut down a university at any time. We have wanted that,” he said.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is going to be a powerful institution instead of toothless tiger as the government has been working to amend the existing “UGC Law” with the absolute authority to ensure quality education and to take action against any faulty university.
The government has taken the initiative to change some articles of the UGC Law-1973 after the demand from experts of higher education in the country for making it a strong higher education controlling body, Education Ministry sources said.
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid told The New Nation on Friday that
the existing UGC Law is very old. The ministry has taken initiative to amend the law.
“We have taken opinion from all quarters. The draft law has been made and it will be placed to the Cabinet soon,” the Minister said.
He added: “The UGC Law was enacted in 1973 when only six universities were operating. Now there are 38 public universities and 96 private universities in the country. The Law was amended many times but not sufficient. It is high time to amend the Law and turn it into a modern Law.”
Nahid said that the new law could help the UGC to exercise its appropriate power to run the universities smoothly.
The ministry officials think that the UGC has no power to take action against any irregularities of the public and private universities.
Even it has failed to take any step against those private universities who did certificate business in the name of higher education. It just investigates of an irregularity and gives some recommendations to the ministry, they said.
The officials said the UGC will get enough power after approval of the amended law.
The UGC top bosses have been demanding to make the higher education controlling body autonomous for long. But the governments did not pay any heed in this regard.
As a result, they said, the UGC has become a toothless tiger. “Even some private universities like North South University have been violating the instruction of the UGC.”
The officials said it is impossible to compel the universities to follow the UGC’s direction without the amendment of the Law. They also hailed the government initiative.
UGC Chairman Professor Abdul Mannan told this reporter that the commission had made a draft and submitted it to the Education Ministry.
“We have requested to make the commission strong and modern to ensure quality higher education. We have also requested to form a Higher Education Commission,” the UGC chairman said.
“India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Pakistan have autonomous body to regulate the higher education. The Indian autonomous body can shut down a university at any time. We have wanted that,” he said.
