Since its inception, the educational institution has been quietly working in the expansion of higher education by digesting various limitations and criticisms. The number of students in National University (NU) is more than the population of many countries in the world. With so many public and private universities, it is moving forward with the responsibility of 70 percent higher education in the country. The students who passed out from the institute are working in various sectors in the country and abroad. Many of the remittance fighters have received their higher education from national universities. National University students are also doing well in the past few BCS and other government and private job markets. The rate of receiving higher education in various prestigious foreign universities is not low due to the students of this institution.
Another thing that is always underestimated and unseen is that at least 20-25 percent of students of national university are engaged in production and income generating activities of their own initiative during their studies and work full time or part time in various organizations. A National University student contributing to the GDP by producing vegetables worth tk. 2 lakh a year or doing 12-hour duty at a super shop to support his education and family is not being considered. National University students dominate the small and medium businesses of the country. But unfortunately, when given the opportunity, more or less everyone criticizes the National University without considering it.
It is necessary to remember-BUET is an educational institution for talented engineers, government medical college for talented doctors, Dhaka University for talented students in general education. But the parents who sell milk-eggs-vegetables for their child's higher education, the mother who works next door to pay the child's examination fee, the father who drives the rickshaw-van to collect money to buy books and pens for his children or brothers and sisters, for their higher education. Where is their institution?
The boy who drives a rickshaw, ferries online-offline and sells products to his parents, brothers, sisters and gives education to his mouth and brain, where is his higher education institution? National university is the last refuge of higher education for the grassroots people. Prominent sociologist, researcher and current vice-chancellor of National University Prof. Dr. ASM Amanullah picked up a tissue from the tissue box and said, "This tissue paper is also bought with the money of a rickshaw puller or a day laborer. So, every expenditure wants to be justified." Much can be said for the sake of criticism; But reality is a very bitter and difficult equation. There is no opportunity to trivialize the progress that the National University has made with the limitations and crises.
We must keep our limitations in mind in order to create a competent and skilled modern future generation. Although Bangladesh has made some progress in primary and secondary education, the current rate of higher education is not noticeable. Educated human resource is very important to build a prosperous and developed country. Many complain that the National University is a factory of educated unemployed. But it is not less. Because educated unemployed can play a role in nation building; Uneducated people certainly cannot do that. Those who are educated and unemployed are becoming a conscious society even though they cannot do much for the country. At least they will not educate their children or siblings as they did. They will develop their next generation with practical skills suitable for the labor market. This is how a country, a society moves forward.
Now the question is-how far the national university has progressed or how far it could have progressed. Here it can be clearly said that the institution could not play a leading role in ensuring the quality of higher education. For this reason, the state machinery has to rethink the academic activities, higher research and affiliated public and private colleges in the main campus of the National University. There is public opinion, the standard of education has increased after the seven colleges affiliated to the National University came under Dhaka University. It's true. Dhaka University has taken various steps to manage all academic activities of seven colleges under the supervision of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor and a Principal of the College.
It used to find a way out of various crises and problems. At the same time, the National University should not have taken into account complaints like the Administrative University, in some cases the Board of Higher Education, away from the academic features. It should be noted that the university is a universal concept; Where modern and science-minded people are created by practicing open intelligence and reading-studying-researching higher education. The institution loses the character of a university when it takes up syllabus-curriculum development and examination as its main responsibility without following advanced standards of higher education.
However, already on-campus honors program in 4 subjects, PGD in 12 subjects, Advanced Masters, MPhil-PhD are operating successfully. In this regard, it is to be informed to all concerned including the Government, UGC Honors and other academic programs have been launched in the main campus by upholding and enforcing the National University Act. If the current administration under the visionary leadership of the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of National University maintains the growth of academic activities at the main campus, the country's largest university will soon become an academic university. At the same time, everyone hopes that the National University will be able to play a role in quality education and the development of the country as a public university.
The writer is a Lecturer, National University
