Education
Working to improve universities' world ranking position, says Dipu Moni
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Friday said that different factors are considered to rank universities worldwide.
“There are some issues with the world ranking in education that we don’t understand. So, we are giving emphasis to improving the position of the country's universities in the world rankings," she said.
Read: Vested quarter trying to create communal problems at educational institutions: Dipu Moni
The minister said these while responding to reporters before joining a program to distribute agricultural incentives among farmers at the Chandpur Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium on Friday afternoon.
Dipu Moni said that the quality of our education is not bad compared with other countries in terms of higher education. The quality of education in our universities is much better, but there is room for improvement.
Citing the example of BUET in the world rankings, the education minister said that BUET has come a long way in ranking. Besides, various universities including Dhaka University and Khulna University are performing extraordinarily. Many of our universities are doing world-class research. However, they need to pay more attention, Moni added.
“We didn't pay much attention to ranking before. Now the universities are paying attention. Our universities will do much better in the world rankings," she hopes.
Read: New Market reopens in full swing
Later, she inaugurated the distribution of paddy seeds and fertilizers among 1,200 small and marginal farmers at Chandpur Sadar Upazila auditorium.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (overall) Imtiaz Hossain, Additional Superintendent of Police Sudipta Roy, Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman Nurul Islam Nazim Dewan, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sanjida Shahnaz and other officials were present on the occasion.
Question paper leak in primary school teachers exam is rumour: State Minister
The information of question paper leakage through social media in the recruitment examination for the post of assistant teacher in primary schools is an absolute rumour, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain on Friday.
The state minister made this remark after inspecting the exam centre at Eden Mohila College in Dhaka.
Also read:1st phase exam to recruit primary school assistant teachers begins Friday
“We are continuously monitoring to prevent question paper leak. And we haven’t received any information regarding the leak,” said Zakir.
“If anyone gets any information, let us know. We will take immediate action.”
The first phase of the recruitment examination for the post of Assistant Teacher of government Primary School started at 11 am on Friday.
The recruitment test is being held in the first phase in 22 districts of the country, in which the test is being held in all the upazilas of 14 districts and in some upazilas of eight districts.
Also read: Primary Teacher Recruitment: 23 instructions for candidates for the post of primary assistant teacher
Around 13,09,461 candidates have applied for 45 thousand assistant teacher posts.
The second phase exam will be held on May 20 in 30 districts and the third phase in 31 districts on June 3.
At present, there are 65,566 govt primary schools in the country with 4,28,701 vacant teachers’ post.
Decision on PEC exams to be taken 3 months before schedule: State Minister
Final decision regarding this year’s Primary Education Completion (PEC) and its equivalent examinations will be known three months before the schedule, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md. Zakir Hossain on Thursday.
“No decision has been taken yet over holding of the PEC examinations and the final decision will be taken three months before November, said the state minister at a press briefing held at the Secretariat.
Schools remained closed for two years due to the Covid pandemic and steps have been taken to recover the learning losses, he said. “After recovering all losses we can take decision over the PEC examinations.”
Also read: 1st phase exam to recruit primary school assistant teachers begins Friday
1st phase exam to recruit primary school assistant teachers begins Friday
The first phase of examination for the recruitment of 45,000 assistant teachers in government primary schools will begin on Friday.
In the first phase, the test will be held in 22 districts, said State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Zakir Hossain at a press conference at the ministry.
The second phase exam will be held on May 20 in 30 districts and the third phase one in 31 districts on June 3.
Also read:Decision on PEC exams to be taken 3 months before schedule: State Minister
The exam will be held in the respective districts of the applicants from 11am to 12 pm, said the state minister.
The number of candidates in this year's recruitment test for assistant teachers is 13,09,461. The total number of examination centers in three phases is 1,811 and written examination has been arranged in 61 districts.
“This time, we have decided to prepare the question paper centrally,” said Zakir Hossain.
All the work including seating arrangement, sending and printing of question papers, evaluation of answer sheets, and preparation of results will be done automatically through software. “So, there is no scope for any kind of illegal intervention,” he said.
Also read: Govt primary schools: Exam begins Apr 22 to recruit 45,000 assistant teachers
“If anyone offers to give a job in exchange of money, I request all to hand them over to the nearest police station or inform the police station or the intelligence agency.”
“We want to complete the recruitment process of qualified candidates through publishing written test results and taking oral test as soon as possible,” he added.
At present, there are 65,566 govt primary schools in the country with 4,28,701 vacant teachers’ post.
Don't react to provocations on social media: Dipu Moni
Describing the clash between Dhaka College students and New Market area traders as 'unfortunate', Education Minister Dipu Moni urged all to refrain from reacting to provocation on social networking sites. “We often see that the students of the college and the traders in the area get involved in heated arguments triggering clashes, which is unfortunate. Many students were injured in today’s clash and we are looking into it,” Dipu Moni said.
Also read:Vested quarter trying to create communal problems at educational institutions: Dipu Moni
She said this while talking to reporters at Chandpur Circuit House on Tuesday. She also asked the authorities concerned to announce Eid vacation from today for the students of Dhaka College. The government has announced Eid vacation in all educational institutions from April 20 and as there is no atmosphere for academic activities at Dhaka College at present, they should go on Eid vacation. She also urged all to remain calm. The minister urged the students to go to their respective homes.
Also read: We are proud of our religious harmony: Dipu Moni Over 30 people including journalists and students were injured on Tuesday as students of Dhaka College locked into a series of renewed clashes with traders of New Market at Nilkhet intersection in the city. The whole area turned into a battleground after a fresh clash erupted between them around 10 am as a sequel to a clash Monday midnight, said witnesses.
Vested quarter trying to create communal problems at educational institutions: Dipu Moni
A vested quarter is trying to create communal issues at the educational institutions after failing to destabilize the country, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday.
“Their attempts will not be successful in any way,” she said while talking to local journalists after attending a review meeting with all district level officials in Chandpur on the projects implemented or under implementation from 2019 to date and overall activities of various departments organised by the district administration.
Also read: We are proud of our religious harmony: Dipu Moni
Regarding some recent issues at educational institutions in the country, Dipu Moni said they are creating issues in some educational institutions and trying to give those communal cover after failing to make the country’s situation unstable.
“We are vigilant about the issue,” she said adding that the people of the country believe in non-communal spirit.
People have respect for teachers, she said and requested the teachers to be vigilant.
Also read:No decision yet on 100% festival bonus to pvt educational institute teachers: Dipu Moni
The minister also warned that stern action will be taken if authorities concerned in the educational institutions are found involved in making chaos with such issues.
Depression peaking in university students over future job prospects: SUST study
When it comes to life in a post-Covid era, what university students in Bangladesh worry about most is their future job prospects. This is what is taking a toll on their mental health.
This inference can be drawn from a study conducted by Md Jamal Uddin, a teacher of the statistics faculty of Shajalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), and his three students -- Upama Chowdhury, Md Ahosan Habib Suvro and Syed Md Farhan.
The study was conducted from October 2020 to February 2021 through an online survey at 62 universities across the country. Respondents were asked if they were really worried about getting a job in the future and whether that was taking a toll on their mental health.
Also read:SUST to resume classes online from Tuesday
A total of 516 students participated in the survey, the results of which have been published in an international journal.
According to the study, 80 percent of the respondents reported having depression and 70 percent complained of stress. Of them, female students seemed to be the most depressed ones as compared to their male peers.
Among 516 participants, 380 (73.6%) were males and 136 (26.4%) females. While 414 (80.2%) participants had mild to severe depression, 399 (77.3%) reported having low to moderately perceived stress.
Female students were 2.1 (95%) times more depressed and 3.6 (95%) times more stressed than their male counterparts, according to the study.
Students, who thought that delaying graduation due to the Covid-19 pandemic would reduce their chances of getting a job, were 1.72 (95%) times more depressed.
Also read: SUST students suspend movement after meeting with ministers
Respondents, whose department offered internships were 36 percent less depressed, while skilled students were 46 percent less stressed though it was not statistically significant, the study pointed out.
The study also suggested that universities can provide mental health programmes and strive to have enough space for students to participate in internships.
In addition, the government and educational institutions should work together to address this growing challenge of mental health risk, according to the authors.
Dhaka College suspends classes, exams after clash
Dhaka College authorities have suspended all the classes and exams scheduled for Tuesday after a fierce clash between students and traders in New Market area early Tuesday.
All teachers are requested to be present at the college by 10 am, according to a notice published on the official website of the college and its verified Facebook page.
“Due to unavoidable circumstances, all classes and examinations of Dhaka College's higher secondary level and honours-masters programmes scheduled for today (Tuesday), have been canceled.
Earlier on Monday midnight, a clash ensued between the the traders and the college students, with the latter alleging that few of their peers were thrashed and stabbed by a couple of shopkeepers when they had gone to the market for shopping.
Students clashed with New Market traders again Tuesday morning at the busy Nilkhet intersection, triggering a massive traffic jam in the area.
Read: Dhaka College students clash with New Market traders again
The fresh clash erupted as the students went to the intersection around 10am to form a human chain in protest against last night’s alleged attack on them by members of the New market Traders’ Association.
Some traders of New Market "teased and provoked" the protesters, triggering this morning's clash, according to witnesses.
Sharif, Assistant Commissioner (New Market zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said," I am currently undergoing treatment at a hospital after suffering injuries while controlling the situation last night."
Britannia will be no university- UGC moves to stop new admissions
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Monday directed Britannia University, Cumilla, to stop admitting any new students under any of the varsity’s dubious academic programs.
A notice was issued in this regard on Sunday, signed by Md Omar Faruque, Director of the Private University Division of UGC.
The notice said that on a recent excursion to Cumilla, the commission found Britannia falling hopelessly short in almost criterion required by universities. The number of teachers is inadequate, it lacks qualified teachers, there is no research, it has no educational campus, the library is useless, and all its curricula are expired.
Also read: Cluster admission tests to be held in 32 universities in 2021-22 session: UGC
In a further shock, even the legal authority appointed by the chancellor is said to be absent. This means from the opening of Britannia University in 2017 till today - it does not have a VC , Pro VC or treasurer.
According to section 18,20 of the Private University Act, 2010, syndicate and academic councils are responsible for admission, education, taking exams and publishing results of the private university.
According to section 17 of the law, the Vice-Chancellor appointed by the Chancellor and the President following section 31 is the president of the syndicate and academic council.
The notice said, in absence of the VC appointed by the Chancellor all the exams taken and results published of a private university will be legally invalid.
Also read: UGC to bring all varsity students under digital device coverage by 2023
The syndicate and academic council of the university presided by someone else has no legal validity, it said.
For this reason, Britannia University authorities have been instructed in writing to suspend the admission of new students to all programs until further notice by the Commission.
Prof Nurul Alam made JU VC on temporary term
Prof Md Nurul Alam, pro-vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, has been appointed its VC, an education ministry notice said on Sunday.
The notification has been signed by Deputy Secretary of the ministry Md Masum Ahmed.
According to the notification, President Md Abdul Hamid, also the Chancellor of the university, made the appointment as per the Jahangirnagar University Act.
Also read:Prof. Samad appointed as DU Pro-VC for 2nd time
The president can cancel the appointment at any time, said the notification
Nurul Alam is also professor of the Department of Physics of the university.
Earlier on March 1, he was appointed as the VC on an interim basis for the administrative needs of the University, in addition to his responsibilities as Pro-VC.
The current VC Prof Dr Farzana Islam’s tenure expired on March 2.