Higher Education at Private Universities in Bangladesh: Problems and Prospects

Abstract

Every year the majority of students were deprived of higher education in public universities of Bangladesh due to limitations of available seats. Considering the issue, the government took an initiative to establish private universities by promulgating a new law titled Private University Act in 1992. Currently, Bangladesh has 3 international universities, 40 public universities and 95 private universities. Private universities have a great role in a developing country like Bangladesh for developing human capital as it is known that a well-educated and well-trained population drives a nation to rapid economic growth. Bangladesh has limited natural resources; however, it has a huge population. In this context, private universities can really play a vital role in creating knowledge-based economy by providing proper education, knowledge and skills to a large number of graduates. It is true that private universities are indispensable for fulfilling the growing demand of the higher education in Bangladesh, but a good many of them are unable to reach an acceptable standard in terms of teaching-learning, teachers, and market acceptability of their graduates. Most of the low-performing institutions have profit making tendency only. They lack good will and at the same time have been exploiting students. The government, Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission (UGC) should perform their role properly in helping the universities by giving the necessary guidance for overcoming the existing shortcomings, especially regarding infrastructural development, teaching-learning environment and quality education.