Staff Reporter :
The number of educated unemployed individuals in the country is rising at an alarming rate, warned Education Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud.
He attributed the situation to corruption in teacher recruitment, which has left the country’s universities in a precarious condition.
The Adviser made these remarks on Sunday during a seminar titled ‘Global Standards in Higher Education: What Bangladesh Needs to Do,’ held at a hotel in the capital.
The seminar was part of the ‘First Bangladesh Higher Education Conference 2024,’ organised by Banik Barta.
Wahiduddin Mahmud observed that the state of higher education in the country has been steadily deteriorating due to various factors, including sycophantic politics among teachers, the criminalisation of student politics, and widespread irregularities in teacher recruitment.
He stated, “Educational institutions have been systematically weakened over the years. Discussions among teachers prioritise politics over research, which is a significant barrier to progress. To move forward, we must address the root causes of these issues.”
The Education Adviser expressed grave concern over corruption in teacher recruitment at all levels, particularly in universities, which he said has brought higher education institutions to the brink of collapse.
While acknowledging the many challenges faced by universities, Wahiduddin Mahmud noted that many faculty members possess international-standard research skills.
However, their contributions are often overshadowed by the dominance of political discourse within academic institutions.
He added, “The increasing number of educated unemployed individuals is a worrying trend linked to the declining environment of higher education.
Teacher recruitment corruption, political favouritism, and the exploitation of student politics are among the primary reasons for this decline.”
He stressed, “We need to investigate why talented educators are being sidelined and address the systemic issues that have led to this situation.”
Wahiduddin Mahmud also pointed out that many public universities currently lack key leadership roles, such as vice-chancellors or treasurers, due to the influence of political partisanship in recruitment.
“The change in government led to the mass departure of appointees, highlighting the extent of politicisation,” he remarked.
The Adviser called for urgent reforms in higher education, focusing on merit-based recruitment and minimising political interference.
He emphasised the importance of shifting the focus from politics to research and quality education to restore the purpose and prestige of universities.
“To meet global standards and secure the future of higher education in Bangladesh, we must address these deeply rooted issues,” he concluded.
