Education
UGC Directs NU to Halt Undergraduate Admissions at Main Campus for 2023–24 Academic Year
In a recent development, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a directive instructing the National University (NU) authorities to abstain from admitting students at the undergraduate (honours) level for the upcoming academic year (2023–24) at its main campus.
A press release, endorsed by Dr Shamsul Arefin, Director of Public Relations and Information Rights Division, was disseminated on Sunday, highlighting this directive. As per the release, the UGC emphasized that this directive will remain in effect until further instructions are received from President Mohammed Shahabuddin, who also serves as the Chancellor.
The UGC had communicated with President Shahabuddin on January 25, expressing concerns about the decision to admit students to the National University main campus. The release specified that all admission activities outlined in the NU’s admission circular should be halted until the Chancellor issues additional directives.
The directive from the UGC underscored that the ongoing process of admitting students to undergraduate programs at the university’s main campus constitutes a clear violation of the National University Act. The Commission stressed that allowing admissions would disrupt the legal purpose of establishing the National University, leading to potential legal complications for students and causing distress for both students and parents.
Consequently, the UGC sought the President’s guidance to take necessary measures to prevent the admission of students into undergraduate programs at the main campus of the National University.
It is noteworthy that last year, the National University main campus had issued a notification inviting applications from interested students for enrollment in undergraduate (honours) programs in departments such as LLB, BBA, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Nutrition and Food Science. During that period, the UGC had sent multiple letters instructing the suspension of student admissions at the main campus, indicating a recurrent concern in this regard.
The Primary and Mass Education Ministry has declared the closure of all primary schools within the city corporation areas of eight divisional cities, citing concerns for children’s safety.
Senior Information Officer Mahbubur Rahman stated, “The class programs of these institutes will remain closed until further instruction. The decision has been taken considering the safety of the children.”
Additionally, the ministry has suspended classes at primary schools managed by the Shishu Kalyan Trust and learning centers operated by the Bangladesh Bureau of Education Information and Statistics.
Demanding the withdrawal of the “Prottoy” universal pension scheme, teachers at public universities across the country, including Dhaka University, have suspended all academic and administrative activities indefinitely starting today (1 July).
No classes or exams have taken place on campus since this morning.
“The protest against the new pension scheme has commenced with the suspension of academic activities. It will persist until the government withdraws the scheme,” stated Dr. Akhtarul Islam, president of the Bangladesh University Teachers Samity Federation.
However, a visit to the geography department of Dhaka University revealed that administrative activities not involving teachers remained operational.
“The administrative offices are open, but all classrooms are locked,” said Fariha, a geography department student.
Nizam Haq Bhuiyan, general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), announced a two-day protest with teachers’ demands.
“Our program will begin at 12pm in front of the Faculty of Arts today and continue until 1pm,” he said.
Today also marks the 104th founding anniversary of Dhaka University. Students were seen attending the program at TSC despite light rain.
On 13 March, the government introduced the Prottoy scheme for employees joining public universities and other organisations under the scheme from 1 July 2024 onwards.
However, those who joined these institutions before 1 July 2024 will continue to receive their previous pension benefits.
In addition to public universities, employees in autonomous, state-owned, and other statutory organisations, along with their subordinates, will also be included in the pension scheme, set to be implemented from Monday.
Public university teachers have been protesting their inclusion in the Prottoy scheme since its announcement and have vowed to continue their protest until it is withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the National Pension Authority has stated that they are ready to implement the scheme from Monday as per the government’s decision.
The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams commenced across Bangladesh this morning, excluding the Sylhet division.
In Sylhet, the exams will begin on July 9 due to flooding, according to a Ministry of Education directive. The Sylhet Education Board Chairman, Rama Bijoy Sarkar, stated that new dates for the Bangla-I, II, and English-I and II papers will be announced later.
Nationwide, a total of 14,50,790 students from nine general education boards, the Madrasha Board, and the Technical Board are expected to take the exams at 2,275 centers from 9,463 educational institutions.
Among the candidates, 11,28,281 are from general boards, 88,076 from the Madrasha Board, and 2,34,433 from the Technical Board. Additionally, 281 students will take the exams from eight overseas centers.
Following tradition, all coaching centers are required to remain closed from June 29 to August 11.
Last year, 13,59,342 students participated in the examinations from all boards.
The HSC written exams will continue until August 11, followed by practical exams from August 12 to August 21. Exams under the Technical Board will end on July 18, with practical exams scheduled from July 19 to August 4.
Students must enter exam centers 30 minutes before the exams start. The question paper codes will be sent via SMS 25 minutes before the exams begin. Only exam center in-charges are allowed to carry mobile phones inside the centers.
Only examinees, center invigilators, ministry teams, board teams, local administration, upazila administration teams, and security personnel are permitted inside the exam centers.
In Dhaka, the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Metropolitan Police will assist examinees during the exams, as previously announced.
