Higher secondary students of Dhaka College blockaded the Science Lab intersection in Dhaka on Monday.
The students are demanding the cancellation of the proposed “schooling model” for Dhaka Central University.
They brought out a procession from the college premises and took position at the Science Lab intersection around 10:30am, halting traffic on Mirpur Road in the New Market area.
According to the students, institutions like Dhaka College are established with a long history, uniqueness, and identity. Their identity has been built upon a century of tradition, reputation, and their own educational environment.
They fear that this identity will be damaged due to the new university structure. Furthermore, such a decision has been taken without considering their opinions. Imposing the new structure could further increase administrative complications, teacher shortages, and infrastructural deficits.
Essentially, the interim government has taken a policy decision to establish a new independent public university named “Dhaka Central University” by merging seven government colleges.
Prior to this, the affiliation with Dhaka University has also been revoked. The matter was informed through a notification sent by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Education on 12 November.
It stated that this initiative is being taken to improve the quality of higher education, reduce administrative complications, and lessen the excessive pressure on Dhaka University.
Under this, the new university’s operations will commence with Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women’s College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College.
The draft proposes forming the new university in an “interdisciplinary” structure by dividing the seven colleges into four schools, where teaching at three levels – higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate – will continue.
