Educational institutions of our country are drowning in unrests as we see the rival political groups fighting each other. From the beginning of this Awami League term, the opposition-backed students’ organizations were almost inactive. Usually Bangladesh Chatra League (BCL) was seen doing heinous activities one by one and the government has failed to address them. The students and teachers of different institutions are found completely fed up for the administrative failure and corruption of the authorities. Politically backed students’ groups started to dominate the general students and even beat and harass the teachers.
Prominent institutions like Jahangirnagar University, BUET and Rajshahi University were in crisis. We have learnt that 20 public universities, 35 colleges under National University and 8 polytechnic institutions are reportedly facing crisis for which most of the teachers and students blame the political appointees and ruling party’s student wing. As a result, the academic lives of the students face uncertainty.
Moreover the decision against the admission test for Medical college entrance has added fuel to the fire. We are yet to assure a credible exam system that would allow us to efficiently find the talents of the country in this field. Naturally, the candidates demand to prove themselves by sitting for the exam. As it is decided by the court, the government has changed its decision. But the last two months, the students who were in roads could not study at all due to this uncertainty. Will the government give back their unnecessarily wasted time?
The incident raises huge questions in our minds on government’s attitude. Why has the government taken imprudent steps which create further worry in academic atmosphere? Who is benefited by politicizing the administration of the educational institutions? Does the government want the students to stay on the streets protesting and eventually become corrupt like the VCs and pro-VCs appointed by the government?
The crisis is ruining students’ academic life severely. It should be ended with a prudent policy so that we do not fall in the same problem in future.
Mohammad Jashim Uddin
Dhaka