Desk Report:

There has been significant instability in the country’s higher education institutions as students protest against the quota system and teachers strike over the mandatory universal pension scheme.

Teachers have been on strike for two consecutive weeks, demanding the scrapping of the universal pension guarantee scheme. This protest has also seen officers and employees of all public universities joining in, causing a stalemate in higher education.

Students seeking admission into the first year of Bachelor (Honours) classes in the current academic year face extreme uncertainty due to these agitations. Many have not been able to complete their admission procedure even after being placed on the merit list, while others remain on waiting lists. The uncertainty has also affected those considering private universities, as they are unsure if they will eventually gain admission to government institutions.

The admission process remains incomplete in 24 public universities – both general and science and technology – across the country. The second phase of admissions was suspended due to the teachers’ agitation. Similarly, the fourth phase of admissions in three engineering and technology universities under the engineering cluster has also been halted, leaving prospective students of Chittagong, Khulna, and Rajshahi universities of engineering and technology in limbo. Additionally, the admission test has yet to be conducted for nine universities under the agricultural cluster.

Among the four largest and oldest universities in the country, the admission process has only been completed at Dhaka University. While Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) has completed the admission process, but various activities including enrolling in halls of residence remain suspended. Classes that were supposed to start in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Jahangirnagar University, and BUET in the first week of July have not commenced, resulting in students experiencing delays before beginning their academic careers.

According to admission committee heads of clustered universities, there are about 21,000 seats in the 24 universities under the cluster, with 16,500 admissions completed, leaving 4,500 students pending. In the agricultural cluster, there are about 4,000 seats, with 70,000 applicants waiting for the admission test. In the three universities under the engineering cluster, around 700 seats out of 3,500 remain vacant, leaving many students on waiting lists.

UNCERTAINTY IMPACTS MENTAL HEALTH

Nazneen Akhter, who was on the waiting list after taking exams for the 24 universities under the cluster, is from Khoksa in Kushtia. Despite achieving GPA-5 in SSC and HSC exams, she has not been able to secure a place at Dhaka, Rajshahi, or Jahangirnagar University. Her last hope lies with the clustered universities. She expressed her frustration, stating that if she could not get admission there, she would have to consider a private university, which her family might not afford.

Many students like Nazneen are experiencing severe emotional distress due to the halted admission process. Sajjadur Rahman, a student from Rajshahi, recently fell ill from the stress and had to be hospitalised. His father, Aminul Islam, shared that his son was constantly tense about university admissions, which affected his health.

UNIVERSITY AUTHORITIES FEEL HELPLESS

University administrations appear indirectly supportive of the ongoing movement by teachers, officials, and employees demanding the cancellation of the certification scheme. Consequently, universities have suspended the admission process by issuing notices before the start of the programme.

Anwar Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Jessore University of Science and Technology (JUST) and convener of the admission committee for 24 universities in the cluster, told that  , “The movement is ongoing, and it is true that we support it as teachers. However, we are active in the administrative aspect. But who will work with? There is no manpower as they are part of the movement. The admission process has had to be stopped by force.”

Rajshahi University (RU) was conducting its admission process individually, but it was blocked at the very end due to the movement. Teachers began their program on July 1, but on June 29, the RU administration issued a notice to suspend the admission process. RU Vice-Chancellor Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar told That   , “Teachers are on strike, officials are not working. The administration has nothing to do here. The university administration is helpless.”

Professor Sudip Kumar Pal of the Civil Engineering Department at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), also chairman of the integrated admission committee for the three engineering universities, told that   , “We were supposed to complete the admission process in the first week of July. Orientation classes were scheduled for July 31. I have suspended all of them. Even if the current situation stops the movement quickly, it will take until August to finish admissions and start classes.”

Agricultural cluster universities have not yet conducted their admission tests. The convenor of the admission committee of the agricultural cluster, Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Dr. ASM Lutful Ahsan, said, “There is no good news about the admission test for the agricultural cluster. We will have a meeting on July 15 to discuss it. However, if the teachers’ movement continues, the uncertainty will increase.”

UGC CLAIMS HAVING NO JURISDICTION, MINISTER DECLINES TO COMMENT

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has stated that it lacks the authority to intervene directly in the teachers’ protests. UGC Chairman Professor Muhammad Alamgir mentioned that they can only advise and that decisions are to be made by the government. A senior UGC official hinted at indirect support for the teachers’ movement from within the commission.

Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury declined to comment extensively on the ongoing issue. When approached, he stated, “I have spoken about this many times in various meetings. The Universal Pension is an order from the executive department of the state. It is being launched by the government for everyone. The teachers are protesting because they don’t want to participate. Any decision on this matter will be taken by the government. I have no say as a minister.”

When asked if the ministry would take any action regarding the suffering of prospective and current students due to the halted admissions and various services, he replied, “Universities are independent entities. They follow their laws. The ministry coordinates various directives of the government with the universities but cannot force them to take specific actions. So, I have no comment on this. If the government instructs the ministry to take any action, then we will act accordingly.”