The New Nation - Internet Edition

M.T.Hussain

Falling of teaching-learning standards, rampant corruptions in academic, administrative and financial matters are some issues we continue to hear day in and day out about public universities of Bangladesh in recent times.

It cannot be true that all teachers are involved in such evil tasks. But those who are involved should not escape combing in accountability just as all in public services are liable to.

The immediate past Government as we know had a through enquiry in all matters of irregularities done rightly by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the able leadership of late Professor Asaduzzaman. The recommendations, as was known, if duly implemented would contain many of the existing vices. There are reports now that some teachers raising a plea that they would loose autonomy and academic freedom and so opposing the implementation process of the report. Is that really so?

Autonomy and academic freedom are two catchy words in matters of universities. As highly educated persons run these institutions, particularly, in teaching positions, freedom of these persons should ideally be productive that we see in universities of advanced countries.

Not only in those countries university teachers work with high commitment and devotion but also contribute to creation of new knowledge through in depth research in new subject matters. Any case of monetary corruption by any teacher in any form much less misappropriation of funds in research projects is just unthinkable there. But in our case here, we often hear about misappropriation in development and research funds by some teachers. Political connections, particularly, with the ruling government party would make such defalcations all the more easy bypassing any accountability.

Private tuition by university teachers in and out is an unthinkable proposition in other worlds. But unfortunately in Bangladesh, it is quite a common matter.

The argument for such outside tuition and consultancy work is that the 'lowly paid' teachers thus augment their income to support their family expenses.

It is a good argument, but hardly sustainable for the fact that comparable class one public employees receive nothing more as legal salary and income. Interestingly we see many such 'lowly paid' university teachers enjoy chauffer driven cars of their own.

I recall here my London University teacher Professor Emeritus Mark Blaugh (Economics of Education) riding a motorcycle in London street in chilly January morning! Another Professor Brian Holmes (Comparative Education) used to ride a private taxi for his transport need. Many would take buses, tubes and trains.

At the university level in advanced democratic countries, teachers enjoy undoubtedly academic freedom, but such exercises are limited to academic matters for creation of new knowledge.

Unfortunately, I do not know how many of our university teachers devote their energy to such pursuit except for his own political party liking and material gains. I wonder whether academic freedom is misused here for one's personal and other narrow gains and not for pursuit of academic uplift.

Favoritism in grading of learners in final examinations is often complained against some teachers even involving sex matters, harassment and favors alike.

I understand that these evils have erupted and multiplied to a great degree for erosion of moral values among the highly educated lot, not necessarily among the university teachers alone.

But the question of accountability of university teachers cannot be evaded, as I knew, the Assaduzzaman Commission has made recommendations for due accountability for the fact that they spend huge public money out of the hard toils of the 140 million poor people of Bangladesh.