Ensure that higher education not a certificate-based prog: President Hamid

President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday urged all concerned to ensure the quality of education through united efforts, saying it is one of the biggest challenges for Bangladesh.

"The number of public and private universities is now on a constant rise keeping pace with the demand. But right now, one of the biggest challenges for Bangladesh is to ensure the quality of education as education without quality is valueless," he said.

While addressing the second convocation of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) held on its campus, the president further said, “All should work concertedly to ensure that higher education is not a certificate-based programme."

He said PSTU has taken multi-pronged steps to improve the quality of education which is praiseworthy.

Describing the 21st century as the era of information technology, Abdul Hamid said there is no alternative to science and technology-based education to survive in the global competition.

He also suggested the people concerned to adjust the curriculum of universities realising the importance of the fourth industrial revolution to build its students as world-class citizens.
The president expressed the hope that students will play the leading role in implementing the Vision 2021 and Vision 2041 taken by the government through inventing sustainable technology with their acquired knowledge and talents.
He also asked students to refrain from using polythene and create awareness in this regard.

Abdul Hamid said the nation expects that the teachers will be dedicated to acquiring knowledge and distributing it being firm to the ideals. "Student will lose their direction like a boat without boatman if teachers run after riches deviating from their great ideals," he added.

President Hamid, also chancellor of the university, inaugurated the convocation at the beginning where around 3,000 graduates took part.
The academic, administrative buildings, dormitories and important roads on the campus were illuminated on the occasion.
This year, some 1,968 students received their graduation certificates while, 951 post-graduation and nine PhD degrees.

Sixty-three graduates were awarded the Gold Medals.

Education minister Dipu Moni attended the programme as a special guest while professor emeritus AK Azad Chowdhury was the convocation speaker.