Khairul Islam

Academics and experts have expressed their reservations over the newly drafted policy that allowed operation of foreign educational institutions or their branches in the country.

They said the newly drafted policy is against the country's interest that will greatly contribute to bolstering education business further that already gained momentum.

"It will contribute nothing to the country's education rather facilitate the dishonest people to sell more certificates," said prominent academician Prof Abul Quasem Fazlul Haq.

The academician, also a professor of Bangla Department of Dhaka University (DU) said the government should lay emphasis on full-fledged implementation of the existing Private University Act-2010 instead of the new draft policy.

"It wouldn't be proper in any case to allow foreign educational institutions without proper investigation to continue their business in name of higher education" he added.

Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) strongly criticised the proposed policy.

APUB vice president Abul Qausem Haider said that the association has become astonished to see the proposed policy, which conflicts the existing private university act.

He said the drafted policy allowed sending money in foreign currency to the founders of the foreign university campuses abroad as an expenditure of the main office.

"The fund to be possibly created by the full-fledged foreign universities and foreign adventure campuses would be divided proportionately among the local representatives and entrepreneurs," Mr Haider said quoting from the proposed policy.

He said the association was thundered by the provision that allowed establishment of a full-fledged university campus having only floor space of 15 thousand square feet with only thirty students' enrolment.

"Moreover, as per the private universities act there is no provision of distributing dividend among the concerned entrepreneurs or founders earned by the private universities as the private universities are non-profit institutions," he added.

Mr Haider said that the government is seemingly active to prepare another regulation allowing the foreign university branches rather than its visible step to enforce the private university act that has remained neglected.

Mr Haider, also chairman of the Eastern University Board of Trustees, said around 60 institutions have been operating illegally in country in the name of providing higher education facilities.

"Neither the concerned ministry nor the university's watchdog, University Grants Commission (UGC), has taken any action against these institutions except publication of a list of some institutions in newspapers," he noted.

However, the government could allow establishment of full-fledged university or campus of reputed universities that may help provide quality education in the country.

"Only the foreign universities ranked among 300 could be allowed to open their full-fledged campuses in Bangladesh, otherwise quality of education couldn't be maintained," he warned.

Regarding the policy UGC Chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury told the FE that there is no visible conflict between the existing the private university act and the drafted policy.

"It's a scope for the country. The policy will help the people to pursue global standard education at home," Dr Chowdhury said.

He said the policy also contains strong monitoring system that won't allow any bogus institutions to open its shadow campus in Bangladesh".