Govt won’t allow business in education sector: Minister Nahid He says higher education seekers won’t face seat crisis

By AKM Moinuddin

Dhaka, Jul 18 (UNB) – Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Sunday said the government would not allow anyone to do business in education sector.
“We’re working to enhance the quality of education… we won’t allow anyone to do business in education sector,” he said.
The education minister made the remark while talking to journalists after the inaugural ceremony of the 6th two-day meeting of the committee heads of UGC/equivalent bodies of the SAARC member countries at Hotel Sheraton in the city.
National Prof Kabir Chowdhury was the guest of honor at the function, chaired by UGC chairman Prof Nazrul Islam. Director of the SAARC secretariat, Kathmandu, RD Rajapakse and University Grants Commission (UGC) member Dr Atful Hye Chowdhury also spoke at the function.
Talking to the journalists, the Education Minister sought support from all concerned in doing away with commercialization of education.
He said no university without government approval would be allowed to continue operation in the country. “We’ll monitor this strictly so that no such unapproved university can publish and broadcast advertisements in the media.”
Replying to a question, Nahid said there would be no seat crisis in pursuing higher education for those who succeeded in the HSC exams although he admitted shortage of quality colleges and universities in the country.
“We’ve recently launched a five-year project – Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project - for the enhancement of quality education both in public and private universities,” he said.
Earlier, speaking as the chief guest at the function, the Education Minister said the new education policy which is in the process of implementation would bring qualitative change in the country’s education sector.
“By providing quality education for all at all levels,” he said, “we can broaden the base of opportunities of education and ensure sustainable economic development to achieve the millennium development goal (MDG).”
Nahid hoped that many recommendations and proposals for closer cooperation among the SAARC countries in the field of higher education, especially exchange of scholars and fellows, and establishment of common cultural and educational platform would come out from the two-day meeting.
In his speech, National Prof Kabir Chowdhury emphasized that English is a must in higher education. “English has actually become a common language in the large part of the world,” he said.
Prof Kabir Chowdhury suggested the government to allocate adequate fund for higher education apart from engaging skilled professionals to ensure quality education. “Higher education is a continuous process… it’s never-ending,” he reminded.
Dhaka University vice chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, heads of UGC and equivalent bodies of SAARC member countries were present at the inaugural session.
END/UNB/AMK