Parliamentary panel for UGC approval to private university tuition fee structure

The parliamentary standing committee on education ministry wants the private universities to get approval from the University Grants Commission or UGC to their tuition fee structures.

It also wants to make the UGC approval mandatory by incorporating the provision into the Private University Act.

The committee also wants changes in the law to appoint private university vice-chancellors, pro vice-chancellors and treasurers.

The standing committee discussed on Sunday a report presented by a sub-committee formed in 2015 to review the Private University Act.   

The sub-committee, in its report prepared in consultation with some stakeholders including the UGC, also made recommendations for changes in some of the provisions in the Act.

While preparing the Act in 2010, the parliamentary committee included a provision to make it compulsory for the private universities to get UGC clearance for their tuition fee structures. But, it was later dropped when objections came from the private university founders and entrepreneurs.

The committee says a draft of the amended law will be finalised after discussions with representatives of the private universities, who say it should have consulted them before drafting the report.

The Association of Private Universities of Bangladesh (APUB) Chairman Sheikh Kabir Hossain told bdnews24.com the parliamentary committee had not spoken to them.

"We sent letters asking for consultation, but they did not respond," he complained.

Hossain added the committee's decisions would have been implemented 'efficiently' if it had taken those after discussions. "But if it imposes the decisions on us, the outcome won't be good," he warned.

He was also critical of the UGC for they 'delay' in clearing issues like the approval for opening a new department and introducing new courses.

"What will it do with additional responsibilities?" he asked.

Committee Member Hasan Mahmud said, "The standing committee has discussed the sub-committee report. But, we will speak with the representatives of the private universities before finalising the draft."

In the report, the sub-committee recommended not appointing anyone with a third class in any public examination as VC.

It proposed forming three-member panels of candidates to appoint VCs, pro-VCs and treasurers.

The sub-committee also recommended adding a provision to the Act to make it compulsory for the private universities to have at least 50,000 square feet building, a jump from existing 25,000-sq ft. Rented premises will be considered, but not those under construction, the report said.

It also suggested making it mandatory for the universities to have UGC clearance to withdraw money submitted as the reserved fund to any bank.

It proposed forming committees at the private universities on the prevention of sexual harassment.