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President M Abdul Hamid urged entrepreneurs in the education sector to change the mentality of doing business with education.
"Changing the mindset of commercializing education is good for all... Run the university following the laws and regulations," he said, addressing the first convocation of the 'Canadian University of Bangladesh (CUB)' at the Osmani Merporial Auditorium in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.
"A university cannot be run as per anyone's will," he said.
The head of the state asked the university authorities not to turn the educational institutions into commercial ones, but to make those the centre of imparting knowledge and producing graduates fit for the 21st century.
"We don't want private universities to be run as charities... and we do not want universities to be commercialized in the name of education, considering education as a commodity," he mentioned.
Noting that there are currently over 150 universities in Bangladesh, he said, "If we see the newspaper, we notice that some universities are distributing certificates in the name of degrees and many universities have opened factories of making graduate."
The President said to cope with the global progress in the 21st century, he said, it is very urgent to ensure the quality, transparency and accountability of educational institutions to develop the nation, build a better society and produce world-class graduates.
Expressing grave concern, he said that the number of highly educated unemployed persons in the country is increasing day by day. If work cannot be linked with education, the university may have to shut down due to a lack of students in the days to come.
The head of state urged the university authorities to take steps to ensure the atmosphere of education as well as to build their campus and infrastructures.
Nobel Laureate and Rights Activist Kailas Satyarthi was the keynote speaker at the convocation.
Turning to the teachers, Hamid said, "You are the great builders of a developed nation. You must have a strong moral character and be impartial, fearless and truthful."
He also requested everyone to work unitedly to educate and develop the young generation of the country with modern education.
The Chancellor of the university said students should not be limited to studying textbooks, but should also acquire knowledge from external sources along with academic activities.
Hamid said there is no alternative to spreading technology-based education to make Bangladesh a developed country by 2041 as announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He also directed the authorities concerned to prepare an up-to-date curriculum keeping in mind the issues like nano-technology and artificial intelligence to face the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
