Unified teacher recruitment policy on the cards

The unified teacher recruitment policy for public universities is going to see the light after, almost, twelve years. It will shrink political influence and syndication in recruitment, hope concerned authorities.

Education Ministry officials said they had received the draft proposal and scrutinized it.

"Currently the UGC is working on the ministry recommendations. After receiving the final copy, we hope to submit it to the cabinet soon," said Additional Secretary of Education Ministry Abdullah Al Hasan Chowdhury.  

In 2007, Nazrul Islam, former University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman, initiated the policy draft. The former UGC chairman said he had failed to make any progress as the vice-chancellors and teachers' associations were against it.

Although 49 public universities currently follow their respective Act, the unified policy – once passed – will dictate the recruitment and promotion process.

"Unauthorised financial transaction has been one of the key catalysts in the recruitment of lecturers at eight public universities, leading to irregularities and corruption," stated a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) 2016 report.

The report found political leanings, nepotism, regionalism and religious identity as the major factors in the appointment of lecturers.

"Now it's too late to introduce the policy," commented Nazrul. However, Yousuf Ali Molla, former acting chairman of the UGC and also the first convener of the policymaking committee praised the UGC for its ‘consistency'.

What the VCs say

Both the VCs of the University of Dhaka (DU) and Jahangirnagar University (JU) said none from the UGC sought their opinion about the policy.  

"In such cases, the concerned authorities talk to the stakeholders. However, no one did that," DU VC Professor Akhtaruzzaman said.  

"I think the policymakers will consider that DU and other public universities have their own rules."

"I have no idea about the policy. No one asked us for any suggestion," JU VC Professor Farzana Islam said.

"They should talk to us. It could misfire, else, which will not be good for them."

Proposed recruitment qualifications

Lecturer

A candidate can apply to be a lecturer if he or she has CGPA 4.50 in both SSC and HSC, 3.50 in honours and masters examination, according to the new policy.

All the candidates must sit for a written examination and viva-voce. After passing the two steps, they will take dummy classes. Upon evaluation of the examiners and students, a candidate will be selected for the post.
Assistant Professor

A lecturer needs to have 3 years of teaching experience to be an assistant professor. The requirement is two years for MPhil degree holders and one year for PhD degree holders, respectively. Apart from this, a candidate needs to have at least four publications in recognized journals.

Associate Professor

At least 14 years of teaching experience is compulsory to be an associate professor. The requirement is nine years and seven years for MPhil and PhD degree holders, respectively. A candidate must have at least seven publications.

Professor

An associate professor must have five years of teaching experience to get promoted as a professor. That means a lecturer must have 22 years of teaching experience to be a professor.

The associate professor needs only six years to be a professor if he or she has an MPhil degree. That means an MPhil degree holder lecturer needs 17 years to be a professor.

A PhD degree holder needs only four years of teaching experience to be a professor from an associate professor. A PhD degree holder lecturer needs 12 years to be a professor.