Completely ban on-campus student politics at all public, private unis: Govt task force report
It also recommends developing a single university entrance examination, based on internationally recognised aptitude tests such as the SAT and GRE
Key recommendations:
- Banning on-campus student politics
- Developing a single university entrance exam
- Implementing a 'No PhD, No Professor' policy
- Merging universities, both public and private
- Improve teacher-student ratios at primary, secondary levels
- Review school teacher recruitment criteria, pay scale
On-campus student politics should be completely banned at all public and private universities in the country, the interim government's task force on economic reforms has recommended.
In its report submitted recently, the task force also recommended developing a single university entrance examination, based on internationally recognised aptitude tests such as the SAT and GRE, for all public and private university admissions.
The report, titled 'Task Force Report on Re-strategising the Economy and Mobilising Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development', was handed over by Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Thursday (30 January).
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The task force emphasised that strengthening primary, secondary, and higher education systems in Bangladesh is crucial for sustainable development.
Addressing systemic, quality, infrastructure, and equity challenges in this regard requires coordinated efforts by government, private sectors, and NGOs, it said.
Key recommendations for education sector
The task force made a number of policy recommendations to create a more inclusive, resilient, and high-quality education system in Bangladesh.
Standardise education systems: Review the various types of primary and secondary education systems to develop a consolidated system and align it with the national education policy.
Update teaching and students' assessment methods: Review the feasibility and scope of revising teaching methods to incorporate enjoyable, less stressful pedagogical practices in the teaching methods, with a focus on core subjects as well as moral education, life skills and extracurricular activities.
Conduct comprehensive need assessment: Conduct a comprehensive need assessment of facilities, including libraries, digital classrooms, playgrounds, and sanitary toilets (considering girls' menstrual hygiene).
Allocate additional resources to expand ICT access: Invest in digital infrastructure, scale up initiatives such as smart classrooms and provide digital learning materials.
Provide socioeconomic support: Offer scholarships and implement school meal programmes to reduce financial barriers and promote nutrition.
Conduct Public Expenditure Tracking (PET): Conduct public expenditure tracking in the primary and secondary education sector to assess the efficiency and equity of resource utilisation.
Merging universities: The government should consider merging some universities, both public and private, to optimise limited educational funds, increase cooperation among institutions through resource sharing, and improve global ranking.
Increasing use of the English language at university: The government should encourage top universities to adopt American curriculum and English books and use English as a medium of instruction in the classroom to attract foreign teachers and students.
Ending auto pass and question paper leaks: Provisions for auto pass in examinations should be revoked, and no auto pass should be allowed to any student in any examination under any circumstances. Those involved with leaking question papers should be punished with a 3 to 10-year prison term as per the Public Examinations (Offences) (Amended) Act, 1992.
Ensuring merit-based recruitment and performance-based promotion of university teachers: All teachers in public and private universities should be recruited based on merit alone. A standardised mechanism for assessing teachers' performance in public and private universities should be introduced based on student teaching evaluation feedback, research output, and other common criteria in top universities worldwide.
Implementing a "No PhD, No Professor" policy: No public or private university teacher should be recruited or promoted to assistant professor, associate professor, or professor without a PhD from an internationally recognised university.
Safeguarding academic freedom and operational autonomy of universities: The government should encourage the autonomous operation of universities in response to market needs and protect academic freedom from political influence.
Providing substantial government funding to both public and private universities: The government should implement special financial programmes to assist selected top Bangladeshi universities in becoming world-class institutions by improving their quality of education and research.
Increasing international cooperation and exchanges: International cooperation and exchanges between universities in Bangladesh and universities in developed countries should be encouraged.
Improve teacher-student ratios: Recruit required teachers to enhance teaching effectiveness and also assess the feasibility of reducing students per class at the primary and secondary education levels.
Recruit qualified teachers with pay scale: Review teacher recruitment criteria for primary and secondary schools, the existing quota for recruitment, and also their existing pay scale to make it acceptable to attract suitable candidates.
Targeted interventions for girls: Address menstrual hygiene challenges at school and provide proper education and counselling at schools to reduce dropout rates. Design appropriate intervention in partnership with NGOs to enrol students, especially from the hard-to-reach areas, urban slums and floating children.
Support for students with disabilities: Introduce inclusive programmes and allocate resources for special needs education.
Resolve administrative problems: Resolve conflict of interest in selection of school governing committee members and strengthen coordination among primary educational institutions.
