A total of 2 thousand 441 teachers of the country's public universities are on educational leave. Among them only Dhaka University (DU) has 355 people. Among the universities, at least 49 teachers are absent from the university without permission. This has come to light in a report of a national daily.
According to the University Grants Commission's recently published annual report (49th), most of these teachers are staying outside the country on leave. A negligible number of them are in the country. Many of them do not return home after completing their higher education despite taking leave to pursue a higher degree. Because of this, the higher education institutions of the country are facing a shortage of teachers. Educationists said that the country needs to increase opportunities to get higher education degrees. At the same time, opportunities for higher education abroad should be limited. Many of them do not return.
According to UGC data, DU has 1 thousand 423 teachers on duty. And 355 teachers are on educational leave. 131 teachers of Jagannath University (JnU) have gone on leave. Almost half of the teachers of Noakhali University of Science and Technology (NUST) are on leave. That is, 287 people are on duty and 126 people are on study leave. 102 teachers of Bangladesh Agricultural University are on leave. Similarly, 172 teachers of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), 116 teachers of Chittagong University (CU), 77 teachers of Jahangirnagar University (JU), 19 teachers of Islami University (IU), 115 teachers of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), 98 teachers of Khulna University (KU) and 29 teachers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) are on educational leave.
Apart from this, 66 from Haji Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), 43 from Maulana Bhasani Science and Technology University (MBSTU), 35 from Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), 63 from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, 86 from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), and 5 from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET), 108 from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), 80 from Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology ((DUET), 78 from Comilla University (CoU), 35 from Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU), 29 from Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), 63 from Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU), Jessore Science and 96 from University of Technology (JUST), 35 from Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST), 25 from Begum Rokeya University (BRU), 85 from Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX) and several other university teachers are on leave.
Professor Abdul Mannan, the former chairman of the University Grants Commission, told in this regard that those who go abroad for a degree and do not return home do so by sacrificing ethics. And the universities also cannot take any effective action against them. He said that students who wish to pursue higher education in India do not feel the need to go abroad. Because, there are higher education degree programs in most of the universities. But unfortunately, this culture has not yet developed in our country.
The educationist said that it would be better if higher education could be arranged in the country. A supervisor is required for a Ph.D. But in most cases, supervisors are not available in universities. And those who could be supervisors, don't want to give time. That is why the trend of going abroad on vacation is increasing. Now is the time to review who will get educational leave.
Professor Abdul Mannan said, after receiving the degree, employees get increments and promotions. The academic effectiveness of the degree is through publication in various journals. But very few degree holders do this after graduation. In most cases, its effectiveness ends only after receiving promotions and increments by degrees.
UGC sources said that 19 teachers of Maulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology (MBSTU) are out of work without permission. 12 teachers of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) are out of the university without authorization.
Professor Siddikur Rahman, former director of DU's Education and Research Institute, said that there is no way to blame the teachers who are legally on leave. In the interest of the country's education, teachers may be allowed to go abroad for higher education. But this opportunity should be given in limited form. If teachers stay out on leave, the university is deprived of its services. So, there should be strictness in this regard. It will not be right to give this opportunity in mass. The educationist also said that opportunities should be increased so that those who are interested can take higher education degrees in the country.
