National University's 34th founding anniversary tomorrow

The 34th founding anniversary of the National University, the country's largest higher education institution, falls tomorrow. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) has reported that the university's founding anniversary will be observed on Wednesday. In terms of student numbers, the National University carries responsibility for the largest share of the country's higher education.

Established in 1992, the National University has its headquarters in Gazipur. Numerous government and non-government colleges across the country are affiliated with the university, and hundreds of thousands of students study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in those colleges.

Through colleges spread from district towns down to the upazila level, the National University's role in taking higher education to the doorsteps of ordinary people is unique. A large share of students from middle-class and lower-middle-class families earn their degrees under this university.

For the university family, the founding anniversary is not only an occasion for celebration but also for self-assessment. Against the backdrop of students' long-standing complaints about session backlog, delays in publishing results and examination management, the day offers an opportunity for fresh thinking.

Questions about the quality of education at the affiliated colleges are long-standing. Teacher shortages, inadequate libraries and laboratories, and a shortage of classrooms are the everyday reality at many colleges. Overcoming these problems is now the big challenge before the university.

In recent years, however, the use of digital methods in examination and result management has increased. Students believe services such as online form fill-up, result publication and certificate verification have reduced their suffering considerably.

Professional courses under the National University are also becoming popular. Many students are entering the job market with degrees in subjects such as computer science and business administration.

According to educationists, because the future of such a vast number of students is involved, reform and quality improvement of the National University should be one of the top priorities of national education policy. The demand of the time is to build it not merely as a certificate-giving institution but as one that produces skilled human resources.

On the occasion of the founding anniversary, the university authorities usually undertake various programmes. The day is also observed with various arrangements at the affiliated colleges.

Having crossed 34 years and about to step into its 35th, the National University faces a single expectation from students and guardians — a backlog-free academic calendar, results on time and quality education. The university must move forward on the path to fulfilling that expectation.