Professor Dr. Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman. Photo: Collected
Professor Dr. Chowdhury Mofizur Rahman, Vice Chancellor of State University of Bangladesh previously served as Pro-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.
Interviewer: Professor Rahman, many believe we lag behind other countries in the subcontinent in terms of education. What’s your take on this?
Dr. Rahman: Absolutely, we face significant challenges in the quality of education. Many university entrants lack the foundational knowledge they should have. While institutions like BUET and Dhaka University are making progress in global rankings, we still need comprehensive reforms to elevate our entire educational framework.
Interviewer: You mentioned curriculum development. What do you think is missing in this area?
Dr. Rahman: Right now, we lack a systematic approach to align our curricula with job market demands. For instance, there’s an oversaturation of BBA graduates, which shows that we need to focus on producing graduates that meet actual workforce needs rather than simply increasing numbers.
Interviewer: How do you view the changes in the educational landscape since the 1990s?
Dr. Rahman: In the 90s, we had a limited number of public universities and low pass rates. Today, while pass rates have soared and the number of universities has increased, I’m concerned that this growth has prioritized quantity over quality. We need to ensure that our educational achievements are meaningful.
Interviewer: What’s your perspective on research at the university level?
Dr. Rahman: The research culture is quite weak. Unfortunately, faculty positions often depend more on political connections than academic merit, which discourages serious research efforts. We need to cultivate an environment where research is valued and supported.
Interviewer: Funding seems to be a recurring issue. What are your thoughts on the budget for education?
Dr. Rahman: The government allocates only 1.5% of GDP to education, which is insufficient—UNESCO recommends at least 6%. Most of this budget goes to teacher salaries, leaving very little for research and development. We must increase investment in education to truly make it the backbone of our nation.
Interviewer: Finally, what reforms would you suggest to improve the situation?
Dr. Rahman: We must prioritize valuing our teachers. If we want the best minds in education, we need to offer competitive salaries and respect, similar to models in countries like India. By enhancing the teaching profession, we can improve educational quality across all levels. Ultimately, investing in teachers will yield better outcomes for our students.
Interviewer: Thank you, Professor Rahman, for sharing your insights on these critical issues in education.
Dr. Rahman: Thank you for having me!
Messenger/Disha
