Skilled manpower should be created according to demand

Professor Dr.  Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman.  Vice Chancellor of State University of Bangladesh. He previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of United International University.  He recently spoke to The Daily Messenger about various aspects of higher education.  Interviewed by staff reporter Anjan Chandra Dev.

Question: We lag behind in education sector in comparison with many countries in the subcontinent. The world ranking is also far behind. You have been associated with teaching for a long time, what do you think about it?

Mofizur Rahman: We lack quality education in all areas. Our intermediate students do not have the knowledge what they should come to university with. They should come to the university with enough knowledge. However, some universities are doing well now. After BUET and Dhaka University, North South and BRAC University are in the world ranking. Not doing well at all, not like that.  We are coming to Times Higher Education and QS ranking. I think there was no need for so many experiments in education. I have done creative once and now I have given up the grade system. It is being said again that there will be no science, commerce and arts in 9th and 10th class, all will have the same curriculum. Then we finish more. They were not needed. In terms of education, the neighboring country India is very pioneer, we could see them. Because if you look at IITs, Secondary and Higher Secondary in India, they are conquering the world. Look, Indian professors are working in UNDP and America. Why do we see Finland and Japan!  I could see the Indian education system.  As far as I know, traditional education system is still going on in India.

Question: When a new curriculum or subject is opened in each country, it is seen how many people are needed in the related jobs.  According to that the graduates are taken out.  Bangladesh does not have that system.  What kind of policy is needed to overcome this problem?

Mofizur Rahman: When people start being created in a sector, we go to such a stage, we finish that field.  Like studying BBA. One day lakhs of people will get out of BBA. It will be seen, nothing will happen with BBA.  Since the country does not work like this, it is important to keep an eye on how we can create manpower at least according to the external demand.  Because it is better for us.

Question: If you compare the position of the university in Bangladesh in the 90s with the current situation.  How is the image actually?

Mofizur Rahman: At that time, all were public universities. There were only two or three private universities.  As far as I know in the nineties there was North South University and IUBAT.  And there was Kazi Zafrullah Public Health University. When we passed HSC, the pass rate during HSC was very low.  During our time most probably 35 percent passed in HSC.  In fact, the pass rate was very low, above 50 percent.  Now the pass rate is almost 90 percent.  We have probably become more focused on numbers than quality.

Question: Tell us about research at the university level.

Mofizur Rahman: Broadly speaking, not much research works are being done. Because university professors and VCs are made on the basis of party membership. It doesn't matter how well he researches. If I want to be a professor in such a situation,I will team up.  Why bother to research?  Those who don't do politics, try research.

Question: Several universities could not spend even 1 taka of the amount allotted in the budget for research in the last financial year.  What is the reason for this?

Mofizur Rahman: Couldn't no means no. It is a culture. Not done for a long time. Our government spends 1.5 percent of GDP on education. But UNESCO says that a country should spend at least 6 percent on education.  Even in 1.5 percent, there are various loopholes. The actual rate is even lower.  You say education is the backbone of the nation, and don't spend it here, it won't happen.  Even then, how much money is spent on research in 1.5 percent?  Most of them go to pay teachers.  Money is also needed for research.

Question: If you have any suggestions for reforms considering the overall situation.

Mofizur Rahman: If we consider education as the backbone of the nation, then the teacher should be kept well.  We are hiring teachers in primary and secondary education.  But does anyone actually want to be a school teacher?  Teachers may still have some respect in the society, but it is difficult to make a living on their salary.  That's why the best university students want to avoid it.  Those who are backbenchers and have nothing to do in life. They may go this way out of sheer compulsion.  So how do you make students?  For that we could also look at India.  The headmaster of the village school also has a PhD and his salary is 75 thousand taka. Different pay structure for teachers in India, it is much higher than normal scale.  If I could give a better life to school and college teachers, good students would go there.  And if good students come to teach, the quality of education can be improved.  Simply put, if we call education the backbone of a nation, then the teacher must be valued as such.  And if I can make school very strong till college, automatically university will be good.  If students like BUET students were recruited, wouldn't the output be better?  To get good output, teachers need to be good.  Invest well, you will get benefits.  It won't work if you say it by mouth.