The government has made mandatory the written tests and police verification for recruiting teachers and employees at the public universities, according to a new government directive sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The universities will have to conduct police verification or background checks of all the appointees – be it a teacher or staff, the directive addressed to the secretary of the UGC, added.
Currently there are 38 public universities in Bangladesh, of which 37 are running their academic activities.
“In recent times, complexities have emerged over the appointment of teachers and staff at public universities. To resolve the issue two specific recommendations have been made upon intelligence agencies’ reports provided by the Prime Minister’s Office,” the government directive issued September 21, read.
The government move came after names of a number of private university teachers surfaced in terrorism-related activities following the July 1 Holey Artisan incident.
The education ministry directive noted that since the public universities are autonomous organisations they do not require any kind of verification by a third party before appointing teachers and staffs.
“It (the system) allows individual involved in criminal act or anti-state activities to get appointed without any scrutiny.”
The ministry has requested the UGC to initiate measures towards implementing the government decision.
“We have asked the UGC to make sure the universities endorse it,” Additional Secretary (Universities) Md Helal Uddin told reporters.
Reactions from the university authorities regarding the new directive were not immediately available.
