Prof. Wahiduddin Mahmud, Advisor on Education and Planning to the Interim Government, has said that all the remaining VC posts at varsities will be filled up simultaneously. He also explained that the existing curriculum and examination methods of the educational institutes would be continued with the same textbooks and a formal circular in this regard would be issued soon.
Professor Mahmud, speaking to journalists at his residence on Saturday, also attempted to tackle a host of hot administrative issues that included political bias in university appointments, corruption in infrastructure development, and challenges facing the process of publishing textbooks. He also spoke about what he described as "occupation" of educational institutions as if these places were being taken over by land grabbers, and affirmed that necessary steps are underway for their solution.
Professor Mahmud also mentioned that more than 40 out of over 50 public universities in Bangladesh do not have appointed vice-chancellors at present. It is not only about VCs, a number of pro-vice-chancellor and treasurer positions are lying vacant as well. The long pattern of politicization in the selection process, according to the Education Adviser, has caused problems in finding the right set of academic credentials, administrative skills, and international perspectives.
He emphasized that this is not because of the lack of able researchers and teachers in the universities. In fact, the reason why many brilliant educators remain silent and disengaged from greater academic circles lies in the kind of political culture permeating the university environments themselves.
Professor Mahmud also slammed the all-pervasive corruption in infrastructural development related to educational institutions. He especially mentioned a powerful group of politically connected contractors who have become notorious for their coercive practices. An environment is being created to address the challenges.
He said the current situation is such that even many of the qualified teachers are showing reluctance in accepting even the posts of treasurer. Despite all these challenges, he added, the search for the qualified to run different administrations in varsities continues with hundreds of recommendations being considered.
He also referred to the fact that the vacancy in the post of the Chairman of the University Grants Commission has resulted in poor supervision over private educational institutions. Proposals are being considered sans much delay to appoint a couple of suitable candidates for the said post.
Professor Mahmud called upon other teachers not to consider those who were appointed to the administrative posts as their rivals, underscoring the need for unity and cooperation in order to ensure a better academic environment.