Problems and Prospects of Higher Education: Perspectives on Bangladesh

Problems and Prospects of Higher Education: Perspectives on Bangladesh

Dolon Chakrabarty

Department of Political Science, North Bengal International University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.905000129

Received: 24 April 2025; Accepted: 05 May 2025; Published: 03 June 2025

ABSTRACT

This article explores the current state of higher education in Bangladesh, highlighting key challenges and potential opportunities for improvement. Despite significant expansion in the number of universities and student enrollment over the past decades, the sector faces persistent issues such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of qualified faculty, limited research output, political interference, and a mismatch between academic programs and job market demands. The article also examines the impact of globalization and digital transformation on the higher education landscape. Prospects for progress include policy reforms, increased investment in education, international collaborations, and the integration of technology into teaching and learning. The paper concludes with recommendations aimed at fostering a more equitable, efficient, and forward-looking higher education system in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Higher Education, Bangladesh, Public and Private Universities, Educational Challenges, Education Policy.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To analyze the current status of higher education in Bangladesh, including its growth and structural development.
2. To identify the key challenges faced by higher education institutions in terms of quality, infrastructure, governance, and relevance.
3. To explore the gaps between academic outputs and the demands of the job market.
4. To examine the role of technology and globalization in shaping the future of higher education in Bangladesh.
5. To highlight opportunities and prospects for improvement and innovation within the higher education sector.
6. To recommend policy reforms and strategic actions that can enhance the effectiveness, equity, and sustainability of higher education in Bangladesh.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The study employs a qualitative and analytical approach to understand the current state of higher education in Bangladesh. It focuses on exploring both existing problems and future prospects through descriptive analysis.

Introduction: The importance of higher education in the modern world is undeniable. Higher education has expanded widely in the developed countries of the world. With the expansion of higher education, the pursuit of knowledge has increased. A lot of new knowledge has been added to the world of knowledge; the world’s knowledge base has been enriched. Due to the expansion of higher education in developed countries, especially in Western countries, there has been an explosion of knowledge. It has also spread to developing countries like ours. We cannot remain isolated from the excellence, high standards and modern knowledge and science created in different regions of the world. This is the era of globalization. The entire world has been compared to a large village. Therefore, the development of one region of this large village is bound to affect other regions. Apart from that, there are no boundaries in the world of knowledge. Knowledge is flowing, transmitted from one to many, unless someone is averse to knowledge.

Expansion of Higher Education in Indian Sub-continent: The introduction of higher education in our country on a limited scale began long ago. English education was introduced in undivided India during the British period. Since then, colleges and universities have been established in different parts of India. In this way, higher education began to expand in this part of the world. At that time, there were only a handful of colleges in East Bengal, where higher education was provided. This limited opportunity was taken up by a rising middle class of this region. The majority of Bengali Muslims were backward and backward. The reason for this was their historical reluctance to English education and the very limited opportunities for higher education. In the early twentieth century, the partition of Bengal created new hopes and enthusiasm among the Muslims of this region. But within a few years, the partition of Bengal was canceled due to the opposition of influential Hindus. This created anger among the Muslim leaders of this region and they realized that the reason for the backwardness of Muslims was the lack of higher education. Therefore, they raised the demand for the establishment of a university in Dhaka to expand higher education. Leaders like Sir Nawab Salimullah, Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury, AK Fazlul Haque led the struggle for the establishment of the university. Against this backdrop, Dhaka University was established in the pleasant environment of Ramna in Dhaka city in 1921 and its academic activities started from July of that year. As a result, a new dimension was added to the field of higher education in this country. By 1970, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Jahangirnagar Universities were established in imitation of Dhaka University. The only technical university was established and during this period, one government college and several private colleges were also established in almost every district. The colleges were mainly affiliated to Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong Universities. Many intellectuals gathered at Dhaka University beatween the 1930s and 1960s of the last century. The university gained fame for its quality education and research work. Many talented teachers joined Dhaka University during this period and were closely associated with the education and research work of the university. Among them were Haraprasad Shastri, H Turner, GH Langali, Haridas Bhattacharya, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, etc. Renowned researcher and scientist Satyendra Nath Bose joined the Department of Physics. He was recognized worldwide for his Bose Einstein theory and with it the reputation of Dhaka University spread. Apart from this, many other talented teachers joined Dhaka University later. Among them were Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah, S Krishna, Gyan Chandra Bose, Mukarram Hossain Khandaker, Kazi Motahar Hossain, Ahmed Hasan Dani, etc. Several PhD and DSC degrees were completed at the university during this period. Many seminars and symposiums were organized on the initiative of the university.

Private Universities in Higher Education in Bangladesh: The center of higher education in Bangladesh is government universities and equivalent colleges. Then in the 90s, private universities emerged as another aspect of higher education. The concept of private universities in Bangladesh was first discussed by Dr. Syed Ali Ashraf, Mr. Musle Uddin, Mr. Majid Khan, National Professor Nurul Islam, etc. Through the 1988 Education Commission (Mofiz Uddin Ahmed Education Commission) and the 4th Five Year Plan, we know that many students have started going abroad for higher education. In 1990, 30,000 students went to India alone for higher education. As a result, the Private Universities Act (Act No. 34) was passed in 1992 and the first North South University was established. There are 3 prerequisites for an institution to bear the identity of a university. Namely, knowledge creation, acquisition and distribution. Bangladeshi private universities are working to fulfill these conditions. Therefore, due to the increasing demand for higher education in Bangladesh, more than 100 private universities have been established along with government universities, and universities are playing an important role in solving several problems in the field of higher education in Bangladesh. For example, the following aspects can be mentione:

• The 2003 Education Commission recommended equal opportunities for all students in higher education.But even though government universities do not have that opportunity, the role of private universities has made it possible to provide higher education to students within the country.

• Not only have government universities failed to provide equal opportunities in admissions, but currently, about 70 students (according to the recent Rajshahi University admission test data) are participating in tough and inhumane competition for 1 seat.

• In this regard, private universities in Bangladesh are creating a ray of hope by creating facilities for students to pursue higher education. After the independence of Bangladesh, the National Education Commission Report 1974 set the university teaching ratio at 1:15.

• Although this ratio could never be followed in government universities, private universities can be seen in many departments. In addition to solving the above-mentioned problems in the higher education system of Bangladesh, private universities are working in the capital and divisional cities to evaluate talented students and create special opportunities. In this context, the success of a private university, namely North Bengal International University, as part of a private university, can be easily explained.These are:

• 1-year Masters program with 4 years of honors.

• In addition, the 2-year Masters program is of particular importance, which has equal opportunities in every field, humanities, science and commerce.
• If I explain it differently, many here have the opportunity to get a Double Master’s degree.

• It is worth noting that every Friday, the Masters program (2 years) has created special opportunities for employees.

• Especially as a teacher, I would like to describe some important aspects of private universities in developing the latent talent of students in addition to academic activities at the university level. There is a good system for acquiring the necessary knowledge for all exams including BCS through departmental clubs.

• In addition to teaching in schools, colleges, universities, banks, journalism, NGOs, multinational companies, etc., one can be successful.

• There is an opportunity to establish oneself in leadership or important positions through enrichment in ideal citizen and state knowledge.

• Above all, the clubs are helping the future generation to practice knowledge and build organizational and leadership qualities among these students, especially at the undergraduate level, through sports, cultural programs, debate competitions.

The above-mentioned facilities and the solution to the problem of higher education in Bangladesh are currently in parallel with the increase in the demand for higher education and the increase in the number of private universities. We can realize that the role of private universities in Bangladesh is important in meeting the demand for higher education and providing quality education. In this regard, two recent successes of private universities are notable, namely:

• Two universities in Bangladesh (Dhaka University and North South University) are in the 601-800 list of the Time Higher Education-2023 survey, an international education research organization.

• World Universities Debating Championship-2022 which is internationally known as Debate World Coup. This year, two students from the Applied Economy Department of BRAC University became champions by defeating students from internationally renowned universities such as Oxford University, Harvard University, Princeton University.In other words, according to the evidence of competence that private universities in Bangladesh are providing at the national and international levels, just like government universities, it can be said that just as the best private universities in other developed countries like USA, UK have gained a good reputation, we can think that private universities in Bangladesh have the potential.

Problems of Higher Education in Bangladesh: Currently, various questions have been raised about the quality of higher education in Bangladesh. There is no way to deny that the quality of education at the college and university levels has gradually deteriorated since independence. The main means of obtaining higher education in our country are colleges and universities. After completing higher secondary education, a student usually enters a college or university for higher education. Currently, four-year honors and one-year master’s courses are being taught in universities. In addition, there are opportunities for MPhil and PhD research in some public universities. On the other hand, four-year honors courses and one-year master’s courses have also been introduced in colleges. Currently, higher education is being provided in about two thousand colleges, 50 government (public) universities and 105 private universities in the country. These higher education institutions mainly teach undergraduate and master’s courses. However, some universities also offer postgraduate degrees. Discussions and questions about the quality and role of our higher education are mainly centered around these institutions.

Traditional Education Policy: Formulate an education policy in the country so that the country’s education system is not inferior to the East and the West in any way. The education policy in the country’s education system still remains the traditional education system of producing clerks. By breaking away from the traditional system and keeping pace with the times, it will be possible to improve the quality of education by using information and communication technology in the education system and reorganizing the education policy. Corruption in education administration: In Bangladesh, after the police administration, the education administration is the next victim. Due to corruption here, the teaching community is the first to fall victim to it, and then the students. One by one, every person in the nation falls under the victim of corruption. Especially the teachers of private educational institutions are the victims of its corruption. To get them included in their MPO, the head teacher and president of the school first have to spend a huge amount of money. Then the Upazila Education Officer, District Education Officer and finally the Department of Secondary and Higher Education have to spend a huge amount of money, although that officer is employed for this work. Education boards are also a breeding ground for corruption. You have to go there for work such as approving a school subject, registering, filling out forms, approving committees, etc. But no work can be done without paying any officials or employees.

Incompetence and lack of Professionalism of Teachers: A much bigger problem than the incompetence and professionalism of teachers is the lack of independence or over-control or in some cases, arbitrariness in the field of higher education. Teaching is a lifestyle in major educational institutions of the world. And in Bangladesh, it is a profession that lacks proper status and facilities. Even 20 years ago, the most talented students of the university wanted to become teachers in public universities in this country. Today, this trend is not true in many cases. The facilities and social status of teachers are much more limited than even in India or other neighboring countries. Lack of proper training of teachers: Teachers are the carriers of education of any nation. If teachers can be properly trained, the spread of education of the nation will be much higher than the spread of education of other nations of the world. Teachers in Bangladesh are paid the lowest salaries compared to all other countries in the world and there is no thought of improving their skills through good training. The government can play a role in improving the skills of the country’s teaching society by providing better training to them. Proper training of teachers is essential to take education further.

Insufficient Investment in the Education Sector: Massive investment in the education sector is essential to accelerate national development. In fact, the benefits of investment in the education sector for national development come gradually. And therefore, it is often not immediately visible to us. This may be why state investment in the education sector is continuously decreasing in our country. However, according to economists, investment in the education sector is the most profitable and safe state investment. According to economists Adam Smith, David Ricardo and Marshall, education is a sector whose function is to develop skilled manpower and circulate capital. Economist Arthur Schulz has shown that the return on investment in primary education is 35 percent, in secondary education 20 percent and in higher education 11 percent. Robert Solow and Arthur Schulz even won the Nobel Prize in Economics for their fundamental contributions to the economics of education.

Prospects: I think that it is possible to overcome all these problems with the joint efforts of everyone; Firstly, in order to improve the quality of higher education, we have to give importance to English language education. English education should be introduced from the primary level of education. Various education commission reports have said that students can learn (accept) foreign languages ​​from the third grade. Therefore, I think that if English is taught from the primary education level and if the reading and practice of English language is continued (increased) at the secondary and higher secondary levels, students will be enriched in English language knowledge. Therefore, acquiring knowledge from English textbooks and auxiliary books at the college and university levels will be easier. Along with this, we have to take up a comprehensive program for translating English textbooks and auxiliary books and writing books in Bengali.

Secondly, higher education institutions should be kept free from politics. This does not mean that student politics should be stopped. Students have the right to engage in politics but the educational institutions should be kept free from the influence of terrorist politics. In other words, I mean that national or student politics should not spoil the educational environment in any way. Students will not indulge in any violent and vile activities that destroy and pollute the educational environment. There should be a consensus among the political parties of the country that they will not use higher education institutions and students for vile political interests. They will not destabilize universities and colleges with political programs from time to time. Then higher education institutions will be free from terrorism.

Thirdly, if educational institutions can continue their normal educational programs, session jams will be eliminated. Teachers will have to play an active role in this regard. Session jams should be eliminated by taking extra classes and working extra hard in the national interest.

Fourth, merit will be the only criterion in the admission of students. Regardless of religion, caste and class, merit will be the main condition for obtaining higher education. Qualifications cannot be relaxed due to quota system or any other reason. However, opportunities for talented but poor students to get education must be created.

Fifth, qualification will also be the only criterion in the selection of teachers. In the appointment and promotion of teachers, their academic achievements, research work, relentless practice and concentration must be evaluated. The quality of higher education is directly linked to this. To increase the quality of teaching, teachers must be involved in research work. There must also be a system of appropriate training for teachers. University teachers must be regularly involved in research work. Because without research, the creation of new knowledge and improvement of the quality of education is not possible.

Sixth, the quality of education must be improved through the use of modern educational materials and modern technology. That is, libraries and laboratories in higher education institutions must be made up-to-date, modern and enriched.

Seventh, the curriculum of universities and colleges should be modern, international and contemporary. On the one hand, the curriculum should be formulated in accordance with the national needs of the country, on the other hand, the syllabus should be prepared in accordance with the modern, international universal curriculum or curriculum. The curriculum should be prepared in such a way that the knowledge acquired by the student can be used for the welfare of people and society.

Eighthly, the curriculum should be such that it can awaken patriotism among the students, create a sense of compassion for the land and people and develop the students as honest and good citizens. If all those concerned are sincere in improving the quality of higher education, there is immense potential for the expansion and improvement of higher education in our country. Our above-mentioned recommendations can be considered in improving the quality of higher education. Until we can achieve specific standards of higher education, the government of the country will continue to provide national capacity and resources on a priority basis in this regard and all those concerned will extend their sincere cooperation. I hope that by creating momentum in the educational process in higher education institutions and through uninterrupted pursuit of knowledge and knowledge practice, we will be able to achieve high standards of higher education in our country.

CONCLUSION

Finally, it can be said that private universities, like government universities, are playing an important role in higher education. For this reason, the government should provide some financial benefits to private universities from time to time. It can provide financial assistance in terms of teacher training costs, subsidies for land purchase and building construction, reduction in annual tax rates, etc. That is, government cooperation is needed in higher education with government universities and colleges. Such examples were common in various developed countries like England, Germany, and America when their economies were similar to ours. But it can be seen that in the 2022-2023 budget, the education sector was allocated 12% of the total budget, whereas the first Education Commission of Bangladesh recommended 15% of the budget for colleges and universities only. It is worth noting that in this Education Commission, 9.2% of the budget was allocated for university education only. Again, it can be seen that in the governance system of the Bangabandhu government of independent Bangladesh, 7.1% of the total budget of the first five-year plan was allocated only to the education sector, which was not done in any subsequent five-year plan. Therefore, I think it is necessary to increase the allocation to both the government and private sectors in the economic budget of higher education. Just as there is a provision in government universities that how many students will be admitted in which department, this is not seen in private universities. Students are admitted to some universities by providing various facilities. In this, more students are admitted to those universities than their capacity. For this, a central private university admission test program can be started under the supervision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to control the admission of additional students to private universities and the admission of students to various private universities can be completed on the basis of this test score. It is known through the newspaper that several hundred crores of taka have been looted in a certain university. It is expected that the government will keep an eye on such various issues. Along with the above-mentioned issues, another important aspect of higher education is basic research. To increase quality research at the university level, just as neighboring India has established a central university by combining the colleges of the national university, there is a need to establish a central higher research institution by combining government colleges-universities and private universities in Bangladesh. Because it is expected that this government-controlled research knowledge will be applied to the practical needs of the state and will enrich the quality of our higher education.

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