DU and Education Ministry high-ups make fate of thousands of students uncertain

FATE of over 2.40 lakh students of seven colleges recently affiliated to Dhaka University (DU) is hanging in the balance, as various issues have not been resolved yet. Among the issues, one is that results have not been published on time. Second, examinations too have been delayed. Moreover, these colleges, were earlier under the National University (NU), and recently have been tagged with DU only for the purpose of holding examinations. The academic courses, however, are being taught by their respective college teachers.

The seven colleges which were affiliated with the DU are – Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Government Titumir College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College and Mirpur Government Bangla College.

The point, however, the plan for holding exams on time by bringing the said seven colleges under DU supervision has evidently failed to serve its purpose. Also their affiliation with the DU was because of ensuring quality education. Now since exams were not held and results were not published either – the issue of quality education too is shrouded in scepticism.

These irregularities, mismanagement and uncertainties usually occur if procedures for affiliations are done in unplanned and inefficient manner, and when they are done without making proper preparations, including changing the laws, devising a proper curriculum and syllabus. Additionally, as soon as the decision was taken in February this year to bring these seven colleges under the DU umbrella, all the activities of the colleges came to a halt. We fail to comprehend the actual reason behind this closing down.

According to a number of teachers and academics, it was a wrong decision. National University runs the academic activities smoothly. It succeeded to decrease examination complexity. So, it is not very clear why the seven colleges were handed over to the DU in the first place. It has been reported that, the seven government colleges had been affiliated with Dhaka University (DU) in February this year under the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Education Ministry. In that case, both the PM and Education Ministry have been clearly misled about the probable repercussions relating to poor handling of the colleges affiliations with DU.

The million dollar question right now is – who is going to shoulder the liability for making the future academic career of 2.40 lakh plus students uncertain? Also why were the seven college principals’ remained passive spectators while the students were in a state of acute anxiety?

Responding to the crisis, Hundreds of male and female students of seven colleges on Sunday barricaded the intersection of the city’s Nilkhet area in the morning to press home their demand to publish the results of the 2011-12 sessions of the final year’s Honours examinations. Coupled with the students we too want an immediate and efficient solution of the ongoing crisis.

Our students are the future generations to determine the fate of our nation, if their own fate becomes uncertain we can well anticipate the fears of the future. Even the DU Vice-Chancellor has admitted that the decision to affiliate the colleges has not been implemented properly. In the wake of his frank and honest admission another question arises – how would these students be compensated?

Considering the future of the students the authorities concerned of the seven colleges and the Education Ministry must come forward to end the continuing deadlock before the outbreak of a bigger chaos.