Zakir Hossain1
1 PhD, Associate
Professor , Britannia University Bangladesh. Founder Vice
Chancellor of University of Sciences and Technology Chittagong, and the Dean of
Faculty of Business Administration.
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ABSTRACT |
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Keywords: Quality Assurance; Higher Education; System; Bangladesh. |
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Quality assurance in educational systems of Bangladesh has been
viewed in traditional routine ways at
institutions in Bangladesh. This paper
study found out some vital factors which might be real concern in observance
of quality issues. The salient notions including organizational structural
lapses, governance problems, modern teaching approach gaps, syllabus &
curriculum design frailty, infrastructural shortages, top level policies and
decisions problems, implementation problems & disparity factors, bureaucracy,
leadership defects, interference, resistances to changes, improper planning,
lack of professionalism, lack of resources, favoritism are salient issues
found in this study. Political influences on environments, systems of
teaching and learning leading to quality failures have got serious impacts on
total output and development. Besides some other dominant factors include
teachers’ roles, assessments systems on students performances and
continuations, stake holders attitudes, interest in profit makings have been
major features in nil assuring quality standards have been identified. Publisher All rights reserved. |
INTRODUCTION
Quality means certain
levels of excellence in performance of service & products marks. It also
indicates particular marks of standards which ensure satisfactory levels of
service & products utility. Educational systems & management in higher
education include wider ranges of activities and functions that focus on various
educational mechanisms & levels in Bangladesh. Higher Secondary,
Polytechnic and Higher education. Some are private, some are semi government
and some are full government based which are run by many systems of education
management. Though all are similar in general but in terms of quality issues,,
a huge lapses are detected in many institutions either private or government
institutions.
This
paper focuses on a general set scenario of quality & standards observed in
educational institutions. There are almost 150 universities in Bangladesh. Of
all nearly 90 are private. Public
institutions and teachers are also vital issues of consideration on matters of
quality. Environments including cultural dimensions bears major aspects in
offering and conducting learning and educational services are included in the
paper. The higher institutions like
further / degree colleges, universities and institutes are targets area of this
writing. Though two sections (public and private) in education of Bangladesh are
clear marks of differences appear to be in many issues specifically in
learning and teaching methods and structures. Educational management including
governance’s criteria, teaching and learning for students, curriculum and
syllabi, materials and technology uses for learning provisions are main issues
for discussions. Main dimensions of quality involve factors like performance,
features, conformance, reliability, durability, reputation, aesthetics and
satisfaction. At all levels of education, some issues vary slightly but the
major issues are akin. A team of quality control is supposed to be engaged in
institutions, it handles various issues in coordination with the higher
authority & operation team. Now we will see in to detailed parts of
involvement in different sections of operations in educational systems
respectively.
LITERATURE
REVIEW:
There are many private
universities which vary in quality issues apparently. The public universities
are also same in considerations except some issues like infrastructures and
resources. Basic requirements for educational services provisions are a good campus,
sufficient teachers, enough class rooms, facilities, standards of syllabus and
curriculum are primary needs to be arranged. The second phase of the
institutions aims to ensure all required items and HRM, and students standards
to be certain in practice. We have investigated several universities mainly two
categories such as better and worse kinds. The scenario in various notions is
utterly unsatisfactory. Though some are trying to reach the targets of quality.
The degree of quality standards, size, services pattern, operation systems,
financial resources are variables in those institutions. The common dimensions on every establishments in private universities
are falling in similar factors
include attitudes, targets business, profits , set products like same courses
and degrees in all institutions, concepts in objectives held by the
authorities. Public universities run in
regular pace due to financial and resources strengths.
Board of
directors/ governors / senates which is the supreme authority to make policies,
plans & strategies. The board of governors play a major role for creating a
right direction to develop the systems in quality and other issues but many
boards fail to do so. The Chief Executive Officer is Vice Chancellor who supervises over operational teams in collaboration with other
higher officers. Quality control matters are also supported by them. A leader
is a vital position in all institutions. It is the position which runs the team
& all functions but our institutions face a serious crisis in finding a
right leader, as a result the whole institution faces problems on and on. Quality issues come from
quality leaders who are rare in reality.
Bangladesh
education systems run in frail ways because many teachers are untrained &
unskilled teachers. General qualification does not support for a good quality
leaning or teaching issues. They lack in skills & training for certain
standards. Higher educational institutions either govt. or private experience
in lack of presences of teachers in classroom & delivery of lessons.
Quality control can ensure a good selection & dispelling favoritism in
recruitments. The recruitment systems should be very fair and based on merits
as a result proper selection process must be controlled and implemented
properly. No policies of recruitments for institutions are positively used.
Benchmarking
is a patent right and band mark authorizing body to be attached to the
institutions for holding legal identity or recognition. There are some other
govt. authorities to recognize the entity of that institution including
Education Board, Council, UGC, Ministry of Education etc. Affiliation with
other sorts of quality agencies in national or international are required for
institutions but many fail in doing so.
Classroom
management is another important issue to focus. Teachers training besides
subject knowledge are seriously important. A process for delivery of lessons
& uses of materials and communication with students & administering the
classes are vital issues to be followed.
A program like MBA/ MA needs to be dealt by a qualified teacher but many
cases other faculty teacher used to look after the program and manages
accordingly.
Cultures &
environments play very vital roles in forming quality education systems.
Culture refines mental aspects. And then a nice environment is required for a
healthy leaning process. For example : Dhanmondi area in Dhaka where within one
mile radius almost 12 universities and at Banani where with in a half mile location almost 10 universities are utterly
disgusting, harmful, unprofessional and nonacademic environments which are
allowed by the Govt. of Bangladesh who bother nothing about how a university
should run. Environmental crisis in contexts of offering learning at universities
are seen very much. This sorts of
environments are seen from 2000 to 2015 mainly but now they start to realize it
out and out .
Private
school, college & universities play pioneer roles in constructing &
developing the whole country educational bases. Huge changes in learning
perspectives of higher education are noticeable though there are some lapses
& quality problems are available. In terms of distances learning or
external campus there are very positive phenomena to reach all deprived
citizens who cannot fulfill their dream by studying in Govt. institutions. So,
external or distance learning systems help the country improve the society. But
some quality factors need to be tackled to offer external campus based
education. Control over management and ownership by the Govt. authorities goes
beyond the rules because political & legal loopholes. Many private
universities have no resources and they focus on profit earnings rather than
spending money on quality & other basic requirements.
We have right now a good number of govt.
institutions which have resources but lack in quality & management.
National University offers enormous programs for thousands of students at
degree levels in all districts. Thousand of colleges offer degree programmes. Classes are not regular. Teachers are not
found in class rooms by the students. The mode of teaching is worse than
distance learning process. Students never go to classes and find teachers
there. Learning a few questions like 5 questions from a subject , a student passes graduation or master’s level is very shallow
level of learning. Open University has
been known by name only but the function & activities are totally unknown
& dysfunctional. The major public universities have also many problems like
teachers are not found in campus or classes, they get on either study vacation
or part time job at other private
universities or consultancy work. Traditional or set systems of teaching for
century go on. Facilities & teachers are more than required aspects and
majority resources are misused. Administrative teams with the teachers’ staff
must look into delivering the services to the students. Systematic and faster
process for good outputs is necessary. Clumsy & tardy systems in major
parts cripple the major functions. Administrative and services systems are so
traditional that students learn disqualifying factors rather than quality
learning. Students are heavily engaged in political activities and they are
made to hold either party affiliations , otherwise students cannot get any
access to anywhere. They are slowly trained for terrorizing actions. Basic level of university learning in higher
education are not obtained by 60%
students. They adopt all kinds of unfair
means in passing and getting degrees.
Bureaucracy
is another sign of bad functions seen in govt. institutions. Systems for work
based on set rules, order & authority move very slowly. Accountability
means some sorts of mutual exchanges of work binding & performances process
and it ensures the total systems of work functions & brings good
output. Especially stake holders in
private universities are highly motivated with / for money and reputations.
They use a sign board of a popular politically recognized figure for working as
Vice Chancellor who is merely a puppet
at their hands with out any authority and independence. The owners who are many in present situations
hailed in business world run institutions as commercial enterprises. We came
across several academicians of such nature in universities. There are universities like Santa Mariam
University, Southern University, Queen University, Asia Pacific University,
Millennium University, Northern University, Prime Asia University, Britannia
University ,Royal University of Dhaka, City University , East Delta University, Bangladesh University,
BGC trust University, Asian University
for Women, ASA University, Daffodil University, Asia University , Prime University, and Stamford University are
remarkable for various lapses. Many other new universities run in similar
fashions with idiocy and personal whims. Stake Holders are engaged in
conflicts, legal battles and share problems. Unethical, commercial and
unprofessional practices demolish educational values and norms. More over
compensations systems in HRM are not fairly treated. Employees are deprived of
their rights of due rewards. They are sometimes fired based on nothing but
caprices of the directors.
Operational
systems in any services & products industries should be smooth and clear.
Proper structures in the systems must be drawn. A right person must be engaged
in the respective position to control all other steps & activities run day
to day basis. Operation systems can make progress & prosperity depending on
their dynamism. Teachers are not well motivated due to poor payments,
recognition for the position, respects & rewards systems in society at
large. Example, university teachers are
so powerless that they have no social interventions to be recognized and respected.
The performances obviously are not satisfactory. Teachers and educational
personnel are neglected by the government treatment. Quality criteria must
improve the tendency of teachers to perform better and bring output well.
Many
similar programmes and courses are
offered at most universities which seem to be following same values, vision,
attitudes, motives and knowledge. Performance appraisal should determine the
mark of improvements and maintain standards levels. Regular appraisal services
must be delivered for better results on overall progress of services or
teaching. Rating, grading & scaling are some processes of performance
appraisal for employees. We came across with many institutions where no HRM
department exists, though they offer MBA, BBA, MA, MSc for HRM personnel.
Learning style must
follow some criteria according to the ages, and levels of students. Learning
environments, facilities, process, aids and materials are seriously needed. A
good process for learning is a good tool to be focused. Quality students come
from good products of teaching & supports are also required. Computers,
projectors & other supports are seriously vital to be available. Right
teaching techniques can easily impress on the students mind. They also easily
learn the lessons. Students are satisfied with not only good teaching but other
resources like library, teachers’ supports, less fees, cafeteria, computer lab,
cultural events & textual supports. Above all a good campus with a good
academic environment and facilities is also a requirement for students’ satisfactions
in quality services or educational systems.
But these issues are seriously lacking in many institutions except a few ones.
Curriculum
& syllabus should be up to date. Depending on a good syllabus the quality
issues and reputation spread around. It is seen that many teachers having
research degrees have no sense of curriculum standards. Syllabus are so
obsolete and irrelevant that they seem to be callous and ignorant of those
knowledge. Old set syllabus must not be
a sign of the best institution. The world moves fast and everything changes
every day, as a result learning & contents must run in the same pace like
other first world countries institutions. To control quality in educational
contexts, material development is another key issue to be handled in the nick
of time. Various textual and support aids must be enhanced and developed from
time to time to copy with the modern requirements. Financial resources are key
to maintaining quality & standards in offering good educational systems. All
supportive services related to financial availability and other resources like
sufficient teachers, staff, setting arrangements, sufficient classrooms, tables
& chairs, Computer labs, library & layout for the campus are also
important.
It is
very competitive modern time when the world moves faster and all information
from one part to another part of the world based on network must be available
for students and staff uses. The uses of IT based systems bring the students to
quality learning facilities & effective communication systems can be used
for better improvement.
Feedback
& monitoring on the systems activities, teaching, learning & financial
dealing must present an apparent perspective in continuous operations. Feedback
shows the results and then monitoring cell will reform & refine the
services or input used for output. Assessment and evaluation systems more or less in all universities run in
similar fashion. Set and routine unseen
examination, viva voce , suggestions in exam, assignments and report writing
are common in students progress and continuations process followed. Several universities are might be exceptional in following modern approach including classroom management, learning
criteria determinations, using all aids for
upgrading teaching and practical
orientations must be implemented. Quality control team or
authority will assess on overall prospect & contexts of systems. Based on
all factors a report is made by the team who will present it before the
authority after analysis. All drawbacks or loopholes in working and functional
levels must be detected and removal initiatives can be taken.
RESEARCH METHODS
At first I have a topic which needs to clarify
the research philosophy based on it.. There are some objectives and questions
with some problems to be addressed during the session of the study. I then
identify several types of research approach and strategies which are main to be
traced down. The research types may include descriptive or analytical, applied
or fundamental, qualitative or quantitative , conceptual or empirical but two
types can be integrated . The research approach shows a few issues including
inductive or deductive, and qualitative or quantitative methods may be chosen
for my research based on the contexts of the topic. The research strategies are
survey, case studies, explanatory, exploratory, experimental,
longitudinal, cross sectional,
descriptive are a few chosen
accordingly.
The
phases of research study followed as literature review, data collection, data
analysis are primary stages. There are
some research paradigm / parameters to be identified at this stage. The
variables such as independent and dependent variables are important to
clarify. Some other variables like
extraneous, control, confounded, hypothesis and experimental hypothesis testing
variables must be classified at the same time while doing other work. The research design and process are followed
in the phase. Statistical measurements like central tendency, measure of
dispersion, skewness, kurtosis are part and parcel for analyzing data of
quantitative methods. The research
design indicate all other requirements such as data collection, and
analysis, time scales, financial supports
are important to be pointed out. Sampling and hypothesis testing are
dominant issue to be completed. Tests
like T test, Chi Square Test, F Test,
are very import to find the significance in sampling and hypothesis
results. Data interpretation and the repot writing are the final
stages where finding of the research
is to be clear and presented before
a panel of experts. However,
there is another issue that is research ethic must be maintained thoroughly
while conducting the study.
ANALYSIS
The Ministry of Education
& University Grant Commission are only guardians to save, direct and manage
the top level policies & plans for national educational systems but the
authority seem to be indifferent towards some malpractices in higher education. Public universities are hugely affected by
external political interventions. Growing numbers of institutions either
physically located or distance based ones seem to be blessing for the nation
but these sorts of institutions are discouraged and shut down by govt. These
distance education institutions are linked with the western countries where
innovative and creative knowledge are produced and light of advancements
enliven the developing world are forgotten by these govt officials. They create, produce and innovate educational
products and services and economical strengths finally. Many of trustees
members who are governors of private universities are not having academic tests
and attitudes and dedication to nourishment of healthy educations. The educational standards run in the first
world countries are not here followed exactly, it should implement the modern
approach to educational management but the educational systems in Bangladesh
run by hotchpotch systems. No direct or
one system for management in education institutions is followed as a general
criteria. Private institutions hinged on commercial profit oriented motivation
limit the wider horizons of educational prospects and attainment. Educational values, policies and environments
must be built and followed by all who are in these professions to create real
and effective educational service and attainment and glory.
CONCLUSION
Quality Control on
educational systems has been seen as very valuable mode & process of
development. We have traced down a few aspects in managing quality &
standards marks. A few factors like a good leadership, competent and skilled
teachers, supportive resources & finances, accountability, teaching styles
and operational systems are mainly key issues to hold quality education
systems. Learning & teaching styles & curriculum design have become the
core perspectives in any setting of institutions. We have discussed on
contextual scenario in educational practices but these practices need to be
followed according to educational values, ethics and standards. Above all the total quality and standards
must be offered and practiced accordingly. Management can create good systems
for the best educational practices. We here clarified many concepts like govt
roles, environments, attitudes of the owners. There are some other issues like
barriers to developments in many ways have also been noted and indicated.
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