Dhaka, Oct 30 (V7N)- Discontent is growing among students from seven affiliated colleges under Dhaka University over the term "affiliated" on their certificates, which they claim leads to discrimination and an identity crisis. Students are demanding an independent university status and have taken to the streets to voice their concerns. Today, they called for a blockade program at Dhaka’s Science Lab intersection at 11 a.m., continuing a series of protests aimed at addressing the long-standing affiliation issues.

Educational experts argue that the one-day decision to affiliate these seven colleges to Dhaka University was rushed and flawed, resulting in long-term complications for the students. Problems surfaced quickly after the affiliation, with a major delay in results publication due to disputes between Dhaka University and National University administrators, creating session backlogs and disrupting students' academic timelines.

Despite recent reductions in session congestion, the inclusion of "affiliated" in certificates remains a critical issue. Students highlight this word as discriminatory, especially as it is formatted distinctly on their certificates, further intensifying their grievances. A student noted that there are 34 forms of perceived discrimination impacting their educational experience, of which the "affiliation" labeling is the most damaging.

The affiliation structure also adds complications: while Dhaka University handles academic matters for these colleges, administrative responsibilities fall to the Ministry of Education. This split management has led to challenges, including teacher shortages and budget constraints, which limit the resources available to students.

Since the interim government took office, students have amplified their protests, prompting the government to form a committee of ministry officials, teachers, and college principals to explore solutions. Dhaka College Principal Professor AKM Elias emphasized that the goal of the affiliation was to standardize education quality, but in reality, it created superiority and inferiority issues among students, suggesting that collaboration between institutions could help address these challenges, particularly around admission procedures and teacher recruitment.

While Dhaka University officials assert they are committed to resolving the problems, they state that removing "affiliation" from certificates falls under government jurisdiction. Dhaka University Examination Controller Bahalul Haque Chowdhury pointed to a shortage of teachers as a pressing issue and indicated that insufficient communication between principals and the ministry is affecting students' ability to complete their courses on schedule.

Students have expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry-led committee, pushing instead for inclusion of student representatives in decision-making processes to ensure their concerns are adequately addressed.

END/MSS/AJ