The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

After passing the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations, a little over eight percent of the students could pursue higher education as the country's public and private universities do not have adequate number of seats to accommodate them.

According to a report of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the percentages of the scope for higher education are 11.9 in India, 29.3 in Malaysia and 37.3 in Thailand.

With the increased number of HSC passed students every year, academics have suggested for increasing the number of universities and seats at the existing universities besides ensuring quality education.

Chairman of Transparency International Bangladesh Professor Mozaffar Ahmed said time has come to take steps for increasing seats at the existing universities.

At the same time importance has to be given for maintaining the standard of education, otherwise the purpose of higher education will not be achieved, he added.

He suggested introducing of double shifts or evening shift at the public universities and reputed private universities to meet the present crisis.

Eminent academic Prof. Serajul Islam Choudhury said some of the reputed colleges should be upgraded into universities by providing with required facilities.

The 20-year (2006-2026) strategic plan of the UGC for higher education in the country suggests that at least 28 new universities will have to be established to absorb 15 per cent HSC passed students for higher education.

In the tough admission battles in the public, students who have achieved even GPA 5 in both SSC and HSC, fail to get admitted in subjects of their first choice due to shortage of seats.

According to Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, besides the public universities there are 11,000 seats at 54 private universities, 4,000 seats at public and private medical colleges, 55,000 at 61 National University affiliated colleges with honours courses, 80,000 at 1,069 colleges with degree (pass) courses, and around 5,000 seats at private engineering and technical institutes.

The public universities including BUET, DU, Jahangirnagar University (JU), Rajshahi University (RU) Khulna University and Chittagong University (CU), public medical colleges, Dental colleges, Leather Technology College and Bangladesh Textile Technology College have only 24,051 seats. Of these, 885 seats are at BUET, around 4,500 at DU, around 1,350 at JU and 2,500 at public medical colleges, sources mentioned.