Millions of taka change hands illegally in private universities for unethical activities, a research has revealed.
Published : 30 Jun 2014, 04:56 PM
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) released the report, titled 'Private Universities: Challenges of Good Governance and Ways Forward', at a press meet on Monday.
TIB Research Director Rafiqul Hassan presented the report.
He said the study has found information on illegal activities and deals over an awesome range at these private universities.
The report says almost anything is possible with under-the-table payments in these universities -- from from getting pass marks by paying up Taka 500 to securing false certificates and assignments to audit to manipulate campus inspection, approval of appointments to top posts, approval of new departments and syllabus.
Higher the stakes and more difficult the faking, one has to pay up more -- upto Taka 30 million for a real big fix.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said private universities were an important sector.
"But even though they should be in the non-profit sector, it has become a place for making runaway profits. Higher education has become a commercial product," he said.
He said a section of the education ministry and University Grants Commission had become involved in the corruption spawned by these private universities.
TIB has recommended closing down all outer campuses of all private universities, formation of an accreditation council and creating a complete policy framework to implement the relevant laws.
The study was done on 22 randomly selected private universities over a period of two years starting from May 2012.