Bonik Barta graph Philosophy department of Rajshahi University (RU) has 21
teachers. Of them, 16 have PhD. And, all of them did their doctorate at RU. Philosophy
department is not unique in this regard. Rather, it is more or less the same in
all other departments.
At present, the percentage of teachers with PhD is the highest
at RU. According to annual report of the University Grants Commission (UGC),
there are 1,081 teachers in the university. Of them, 896 teachers have PhD, which
is almost 83 percent. Majority of those without PhD have completed MPhil or equivalent.
And, majority of them have done this here at RU.
Not only PhD degrees, the percentage of full professors is
also the highest in RU. As per UGC information, 648 out of 1,081 teachers are
professors which represents about 60 percent. There are 305 associate professors
and 109 assistant professors while the number of lecturers stands at only 19.
Despite the fact that over 80 percent of RU teachers have PhD
and nearly 60 percent are professors, ranking of the institution is not that good
among the universities of the country. In the ranking of Quacquarelli Symonds
(QS), a United Kingdom-based research organization, RU is placed at number 8
among the universities in Bangladesh. When it comes to Asia, its position is
451.
Educationists observe that the number of PhDs offered by the
universities in the country is abnormal. The PhD degree has been made easy in
the country. As a result, the standard of the research is questioned. In
developed countries, teachers have to engage in research extensively alongside
teaching to get promoted as professors. But, in Bangladesh, teachers with long
teaching career can be made professors without any significant research by
their names. Therefore, the country is getting more university professors, not
quality researchers.
Dhaka University Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury
believes teachers without quality research and sound understanding should not be
promoted as professors. “Making professors should be made difficult. The number
of professors at some universities is high while that number is very low at
private universities or universities in districts. Professors do not want to go
there. On the other hand, PhD degree has been made very easy. We often hear the
allegation of plagiarism in research papers which is not desirable. Creativity and
efficient supervisors are essential to ensure quality research,” he told Bonik
Barta.
Analyzing the information on RU teachers with PhD, it has been
found that a staggering 90 percent of the teachers belonging to arts faculty
have completed their degree at the very university.
When contacted, Dr Belal Hossain, dean of RU arts faculty,
told Bonik Barta, “Fund is the main problem in doing PhD abroad. It is not easy
to get scholarship for the arts subjects. And, most of the teachers cannot
afford to go abroad without scholarship. So, they choose to do the PhD at home.
But, we always encourage doing PhD abroad, as it expands their horizons.”
Majority of the teachers of departments belonging to faculties
of social science, business studies, law, agriculture, biology and fine arts completed
their PhD from RU. Of course, science and engineering faculties are exception.
Teachers of the university claim that the standard of PhD here
is alright. Since the inception, institute of Bangladesh studies have awarded PhD
to 407 persons. Najimul Hoque, director of the institute, said, “Considering
the structure of the institute, this is one of best organizations in the
country. We always try to ensure research of international standard. Overall, we
are satisfied with our PhD.”
Like PhD, the university has a lot of professors although the
number of new teachers or lecturers is negligible. For example, out of 35
teachers at the chemistry department, 32 are professors, 2 associate professors
and one assistant professor. There is no lecturer in the department. Chemistry
department is not exception here. The scenario is somewhat same in other
departments.
Dr Pranab Kumar Panday, RU teachers’ association president,
feels that existing rules and reality of the day are the main reasons behind
the current state. “Every university of our country has its own rules regarding
the promotion of teachers. According to rules of nearly all universities, a
teacher can be a professor if they teach for a certain period of time and have
one or two publications. The standard of research does not have that much of an
impact here. This is why the number of professors is increasing very rapidly in
the universities that are little bit old,” he told Bonik Barta.
Analysis shows that the maximum number of professors is at
science faculty with 142 professors out of 174 teachers. Arts faculty is in the
second position with 116 professors among 153 teachers. Besides, the percentage
of professors in departments of social science, business studies, law and fine
arts faculties is over 50. Only, the engineering faculty has less than 50
percent professors.
As far as the departments are concerned, only 11 out of 59 disciplines
have one or two lecturers. The remaining 48 departments have no lecturers. At social
work department, all the 21 teachers are professors. There are 34 professors
out of 38 teachers at the biochemistry and molecular biology department. Chemistry
has 32 professors from 35 teachers. Besides, the percentage of professors at
six departments under faculties of science, arts and social science is over 80.
Despite repeated attempts, RU Vice-Chancellor Dr Golam Shabbir
Sattar could not be reached for his comments.
RU Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Humayun Kabir said, “The number of lecturers
in our university is low because there has been no recruitment for a long time.
And, teachers are becoming professors proving their qualifications set by the
university. Many of them are quality researchers. But, there should be more
researches.”
“I would not say that every PhD that we awarded is good. We
must improve the standard. WE encourage doing PhD abroad so that our
institutions can be enriched. But, we have had some questionable appointments in
our way whose qualifications were not up to standard. They have undertaken
teaching only as a mere job.”
There should be more emphasis on research when it comes to
promotion of the teachers, thinks Dr Abul Kalam Azad, former Dhaka University
vice-chancellor and former chairman of UGC. “In order to ensure quality
education, more importance should be attached to research when teachers are
promoted. But, it cannot be done only through guidelines. Allocation for
education needs to go up. Financial assistance for good researchers should be
ensured,” he said.
