United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board authorities on Thursday deferred the examination for higher mathematics scheduled to be held on May 25 due to an unavoidable reason. A media release signed by Md Kamal Uddin, controller of the education board, said this on Thursday night.   Earlier, the board also postponed the examination for English first paper scheduled to be held on May 14 due to the cyclone Mocha. The deferred examinations of the English first paper and the higher mathematics will be held on May 27 and 28 respectively across the country simultaneously, the release reads. Also, the practical and oral tests of all subjects will be held from May 29 to June 4 next month, it said.  

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) has recently placed 75th in the Global Top 100 Innovative Universities in the World's Universities with Real Impact (WURI)'s 2023 Ranking. The university has moved up 21 positions from its previous rank 96 in 2022, according to a press release. In ceremonies held on May 17 in Fort Myers, Florida, WURI Project Leader Professor MOON Hwy-Chang announced that ULAB has placed 75th in the top 100 universities. The top five ranked universities are: (1) Minerva Schools at Keck Graduate Institute (USA); (2) Arizona State University (USA); (3) University of Pennsylvania (USA); (4) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA); and (5) Stanford University (USA). Among Bangladeshi universities, ULAB topped the list among seven universities that participated. The other universities on the WURI ranking’s Top 300 are International University on Business, Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), American International University Bangladesh (AIUB), World University Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Canadian University Bangladesh (CUB) and Daffodil International University (DIU). This year, ULAB also ranked up from its previous positions in various WURI categories. Under the Industrial Application category, ULAB’s entry “ULAB TV” improved its rank from 49 in 2022 to 36 in 2023.  Under the Entrepreneurial Spirit category, ULAB’s Dhaka International Mobile Film Festival (DIMFF) increased its rank from 25 in 2022 to 19 in 2023.  Under the Ethical Value category, ULAB’s entry on Curriculum Integration Program jumped from rank 36 in 2022 to 28 in 2023.  Under the Crisis Management category, ULAB’s entry regarding its post pandemic strategy upgraded its position from 24 in 2022 to 15 in 2023. Under the Fourth Industrial Revolution category, ULAB entry “Digital Journalism: An Advanced Study Program for the Fourth Industrial Revolution” was ranked 20. The WURI Ranking is composed of the Global Top 100 and the Top 50 in each of the following categories: (1) Industrial Application; (2) Entrepreneurial Spirit; (3) Ethical Value; (4) Student Mobility and Openness; (5) Crisis Management; and (6) Fourth Industrial Revolution. The WURI Ranking was developed by the Hanseatic League of Universities (HLU). The HLU Board of Trustees consists of university presidents from the Netherlands, China, Russia, Germany, South Korea, USA and Finland.   The mission of HLU is innovation in teaching and research in higher education institutions.  Given its mission, HLU formed an alternative ranking system called WURI.  Instead of looking at statistics on research, internationalisation, and perception, the WURI evaluates a university's real contribution to society. It highlights creative and innovative approaches to university research and education.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni has said it is not possible to face the new challenges of education in the 21st century only with traditional education and everyone need to work together to bring changes in the education system in the new era. “Blending the education system is a part of this change but so is everyone working together on this journey of change. Our aim is to pave the way to build a smart Bangladesh by creating a smart education system through the collective efforts of all. That's why everyone should believe in this mission-vision and work forward,” she said The education minister  said these in an international consultation titled “Accelerating Blended Education for Smart Bangladesh” organized at a hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday with stakeholders from different sectors. The programme was organized under the initiative of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and Aspire to Innovate-a2i, said a press release on Wednesday. “Covid, though unexpected, has given us an opportunity to transform our education system. As a result, we have taken some steps that will help us fulfill our future dreams. We are on the way to fulfilling our dreams. We aim to ensure infrastructure development where all teachers and students can complete the learning and teaching process using quality technology. We are moving towards the solution of skill development through which students will earn their own money and participate in the economic growth of the country,” she said. Blended Education Master Plan is one of the steps in this dream journey, said Dipu Moni adding that  in order to fulfill this dream, the government as well as private institutions, NGOs and global leaders like the World Economic Forum should work together. Mentioning the importance of technical excellence in the implementation of blended education system, State Minister of Information and Communication Technology Division, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, ‘Our aim is to work with the mission and vision of Smart Bangladesh. Targeting technological excellence will make education smarter. Blended education system can be a timely approach in implementing smart education. “ Dipu Moni presented the Bangladesh government's National Blended Educational Master Plan (2022-2031) and announced the creation of an Education Accelerator in Bangladesh. As a result, an accelerator was formed in the Ministry of Education and ICT and various private sectors. Suleman Khan, secretary of Secondary and Higher Education Division, delivered the welcome address on the occasion. Tanya Milberg, head of Education, Skills and Learning Division of World Economic Forum and Anir Chowdhury, policy advisor of a2i, presented the keynote speech of the event. Aspire to Innovate-a2i, implemented under the Cabinet Division and Information and Communication Technology Division and supported by UNDP, will continue various innovative activities with public-private and development partners to implement a smart blended education system in Bangladesh, the release added.  

The coronavirus pandemic has affected the education of children but at the same time it also created so many possibilities, said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Tuesday. “Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the whole world has been affected, including us. It has had an impact on education. However, it will take time to fill in the learning loss or gap. It won't be filled in one or two academic years,” she said at a city hotel. “We have been able to engage 93 percent of the students in education through assignments during Covid-19. Due to the pandemic, our students have been able to learn by trying on their own. They learned to use technology.  There's a lot of potential, too,” she added. The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the release of a research report of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board in collaboration with the European Union on “Learning Loss”. The research was funded by the European Union and under the overall supervision of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. The research was conducted on 18,838 primary students. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain spoke at the programme, among others. The education minister said, “The budget for education and human resources is close to 3 percent. It needs to be expanded. In the last year of the BNP-Jamaat regime in 2007, the budget of the whole country was Tk 60,000 crore. Now the budget for our education and human resource development is about Tk 90,000 crore.  The investment in that case  is very high.” “More money will be injected in the budget. It's a good curriculum now. We are working to recruit teachers and develop them.  Once the work we are doing now is completed, the budget will increase. I am saying that there will be a mega project in education,” she also said "We now want to set up more clubs in educational institutions. Why not a chess club, a science club, a debating club?” She asked. “Now there's a robotics club, and a lot of things are happening. Our students are doing well and we have to give them a little bit more.  We are trying to make the education recruitment process much better.  The better we can do for the social and physical safety of teachers. The further we can go,” said the minister.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected the education of children but at the same time it also created so many possibilities, said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Tuesday. “Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the whole world has been affected, including us. It has had an impact on education. However, it will take time to fill in the learning loss or gap. It won't be filled in one or two academic years,” she said at a city hotel. “We have been able to engage 93 percent of the students in education through assignments during Covid-19. Due to the pandemic, our students have been able to learn by trying on their own. They learned to use technology.  There's a lot of potential, too,” she added. Read more: Postponed SSC exams to be held May 27, 28 The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the release of a research report of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board in collaboration with the European Union on “Learning Loss”. The research was funded by the European Union and under the overall supervision of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. The research was conducted on 18,838 primary students. State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Md Zakir Hossain spoke at the programme, among others. The education minister said, “The budget for education and human resources is close to 3 percent. It needs to be expanded. In the last year of the BNP-Jamaat regime in 2007, the budget of the whole country was Tk 60,000 crore. Now the budget for our education and human resource development is about Tk 90,000 crore.  The investment in that case  is very high.” Read more: SSC exams postponed for cyclone Mocha to be held after end of written tests: Dipu  “More money will be injected in the budget. It's a good curriculum now. We are working to recruit teachers and develop them.  Once the work we are doing now is completed, the budget will increase. I am saying that there will be a mega project in education,” she also said "We now want to set up more clubs in educational institutions. Why not a chess club, a science club, a debating club?” She asked. “Now there's a robotics club, and a lot of things are happening. Our students are doing well and we have to give them a little bit more.  We are trying to make the education recruitment process much better.  The better we can do for the social and physical safety of teachers. The further we can go,” said the minister.  

Dhaka, May 16 (UNB) – The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations which were postponed due to cyclonic storm Mocha will be held on May 27 and 28. The Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday. The postponed examinations of May 14 under Jashore, Cumilla, Chattogram and Barishal Education Boards will be held on May 27 while the examinations of May 15 under all eight education boards- Rajshahi, Cumilla, Jashore, Chattogram, Sylhet, Barishal, Dinajpur and Mymensingh boards- will be held on May 28.        

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations which were postponed due to cyclonic storm Mocha will be held after the completion of the written examinations, said Dipu Moni on Monday (May 15, 2023). The written test under nine general education boards, technical and madrasha boards will end on May 23 and the postponed examinations  May 14 and May 15 will be held after the completion of the written test, she said while addressing a programme at Government Teachers’ Training College in the city. Read More: SSC exams of all education boards for May 15 postponed due to Mocha Earlier, the  SSC exams of the six education boards-Chattogram board, Cumilla board, Jashore board, Barishal board, Bangladesh Madrasa Education board and Technical Education board-for May 14 were postponed and then SSC exams of all education boards scheduled for 15 were postponed due to very severe cyclonic stom Mocha. Bangladesh Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee issued two notices signed by its chairman Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar on Saturday and Sunday. Referring to the new curriculum, Dipu Moni said the authorities have taken steps to implement the new curriculum to build a skilled and smart nation. Also read: No chance of SSC question papers leaking: Dipu Moni.

The closing ceremony of the three-day conference of the ‘BUP International Model United Nations Conference-2023’ ended at Bijoy Auditorium of BUP on Saturday.   The conference was organized by the Department of International Relations under the Faculty of Security and Strategic Studies (FSSS) of BUP and conducted by the BUP Global Affairs Council. The conference aimed to create a pool of global citizens who can tackle the world's problems with confidence, empathy, and diplomacy, says a press release on Sunday.  Vice-Chancellor Major General Md Mahbub-ul Alam, ndc, afwc, psc, MPhil, PhD was the chief guest of the conference who distributed prizes among the awardees in the closing ceremony.   The conference started on 11 May with the theme "Encouraging Safe and Ethical Technological Usages Through Global Cooperation to Reduce Violence, Civil, and Geopolitical Conflicts".   Total 274 delegates from 37 national and international universities participated in the conference. Nine committees of the conference discussed different contemporary issues and their relevant solutions.   Among others, BUP high officials, faculty members, students, invited guests and journalists were also present in the conference. 

The authorities of Khulna University and Khulna Agricultural University suspended all academic activities including exams for today (Sunday), in line with a notice of the Education Ministry, due to the effect of the cyclonic storm Mocha which is likely to hit the Bangladesh coast between 9 am to 3 pm.However, official works of both universities will remain as usual, said two separate media releases issued on Saturday night. The universities’ (Khulna University and Khulna Agricultural University) Registrars Prof Khan Golam Kuddus and Dr Khandaker Majharul Anowar respectively confirmed the suspension of the academic activities.

Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) has suspended six employees after an investigation report found them working with fake certificates. Two employees were also sent into forced retirement. The decisions were taken at the 90th meeting of the Board of Regents, the highest policy-making forum of the university, on Saturday afternoon, according to a press release. The meeting was presided over by Prof Md Anwar Hossain, JUST vice-chancellor and president of the Board of Regents. Kazi Nabil Ahmed, lawmaker from Jessore-3 constituency and members of the board, Additional Secretary (University) of the Ministry of Education Md Abul Kalam Azad, were present at the meeting, among others. The Board of Investigation submitted its report against the six employees at the Board of Regents meeting. Later, after the board found the truth of the incident, it was also decided to take action against the suspended employees as per the prevailing rules of the state and university.