Teachers Protest Plan to Establish 'Dhaka Central University', Citing Threat to Colleges' Capacities

Teachers from seven government colleges in Dhaka staged a sit-in and human chain to protest the plan to establish 'Dhaka Central University' with these institutions. They argue that the proposal poses a threat to the colleges' capacities and would destroy their century-old heritage. The teachers claim that the plan is in violation of the National Education Policy 2010, which calls for the development of infrastructure, libraries, and laboratories in colleges, rather than their contraction. They also fear that the plan would severely restrict access to higher education for ordinary students, particularly women, and undermine women's empowerment and educational expansion.

Key Takeaways:

• The teachers are protesting the plan to establish 'Dhaka Central University' with seven government colleges in Dhaka, citing a threat to the colleges' capacities and heritage.
• The proposal is in violation of the National Education Policy 2010, which calls for the development of infrastructure, libraries, and laboratories in colleges.
• The teachers fear that the plan would severely restrict access to higher education for ordinary students, particularly women, and undermine women's empowerment and educational expansion.
• The seven historic institutions involved in the protest have provided affordable and quality higher education to hundreds of thousands of students for decades.
• The teachers are calling for transparency and consultation with stakeholders before promulgating any ordinance, warning of large-scale student movements if not done.
• Alternatives to the plan include utilizing the existing infrastructure and human resources of the seven colleges under a collegiate or affiliated model.
• The teachers are proposing increased recruitment of teachers, research budgets, laboratory and library facilities, residential accommodations, and scholarship opportunities to sustain quality higher education.

Statistics:

• The seven government colleges involved in the protest have provided higher education to hundreds of thousands of students for decades.
• The colleges are a pillar of hope for young women from conservative families seeking higher education.
• The proposal to establish 'Dhaka Central University' would undermine women's empowerment, educational expansion, and constitutional guarantees under Articles 28(1), 28(2), and 28(4).
• The National Education Policy 2010 calls for the development of infrastructure, libraries, and laboratories in colleges, rather than their contraction.
• The teachers are warning of large-scale student movements if the plan is not abandoned.

Sources:

• "BCS General Education Cadre".
• "Seven College Identity Protection Committee" Led by Professor Mahfil Ara Begum.
• National Education Policy 2010.
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4.3 and 4.4)
• The Constitution of Bangladesh (Articles 28(1), 28(2), and 28(4))