Despite the revocation of affiliation from Dhaka University (DU), the predicament surrounding the seven government colleges in the capital remains unresolved, with fresh complications emerging.
The decision to cease admissions under DU’s jurisdiction from the current academic session has added another layer of complexity, while the students’ demand for the establishment of a new university remains a time-consuming process.
Consequently, education experts suggest forming multiple committees to devise a sustainable solution instead of making abrupt decisions.
Professor SM Hafizur Rahman of DU’s Institute of Education and Research remarked that the dissolution of affiliation is a positive move, as it alleviates pressure on both parties.
DU faculty members faced an additional workload, and these colleges currently host both higher secondary and honours-level programmes.
Establishing a separate university would necessitate restructuring honours-level courses.
However, he cautioned against hasty decisions based solely on public sentiment, emphasising the need to assess the long-term ramifications rather than seeking immediate solutions.
"The issue must be examined in its entirety—academically, administratively, and financially. The feasibility of reverting the colleges to the National University should also be explored," he added.
Following the interim government’s assumption of office, various stakeholders raised demands, including students from the seven colleges, who staged protests demanding the dissolution of DU’s affiliation and the formation of a new university.
In response, the government formed a committee, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) also engaging in discussions.
Education administrators are considering multiple models to address the issue.
A committee official disclosed that they have already consulted the principals, departmental heads, students, and guardians of the affected colleges and plan to hold discussions with academics and media representatives.
However, no concrete solution has yet been reached.
Another major challenge is the accreditation of degrees.
Colleges offering bachelor’s and master’s programmes must remain affiliated with a university for their degrees to be recognised.
The revocation of affiliation and the subsequent halt in admissions have created severe uncertainty.
Questions are being raised about the relevance of affiliating these colleges with another university after their dissociation from DU.
On the other hand, the establishment of a new university is a lengthy process, requiring legislative approval in the National Parliament and the enactment of an independent legal framework.
This conundrum, with admissions on hold and university formation a protracted affair, has deepened the crisis.
Former director of DU’s Institute of Education and Research, Professor Dr Siddiqur Rahman, criticised the decision, stating that it was taken without ensuring an alternative arrangement.
"Such a decision should have been made in consultation with the government. Without affiliation, the degrees awarded will lack recognition. Moreover, establishing a new university exclusively for these seven colleges is an unrealistic demand. If such precedents are set, other colleges might follow suit with similar demands," he cautioned.
He further opined that affiliating these colleges with DU in 2017 was a flawed decision, as institutions of similar calibre existed elsewhere in the country. This move, he argued, disrupted the academic landscape and undermined the National University.
"The only viable solution now is to enrol incoming students under the National University," he asserted.
As uncertainty prevails, education stakeholders remain divided on the best course of action, underscoring the need for a well-structured and forward-looking resolution.
