President Abdul Hamid on Saturday called for effective steps so poor students get access to private universities.
“Education in private universities has become very expensive. So, the children of poor families can’t afford to study there,” the president said addressing the second convocation of University of Information Technology and Sciences (UITS) at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the city.
He said poor students should be offered more stipends.
“I urge all concern to consider the issue so that not only children of rich families but also those of poor families get access to university education,” he said.
At the convocation nearly 6,000 students were conferred graduate and post graduate degrees from different disciplines while six students received gold medals for their outstanding results.
The president, who is also the chancellor of the university, said the importance of making oneself competitive in this age of globalization is increasing.
He said there is no alternative to practice and acquiring knowledge.
“Standard education is the demand of time. We have to work out our educational programe considering demand of the labor market,” he said.
“In this age of globalization we have to impart our students education based on science and technology, profession-wise arts and science to stay in the world of completion,” observed the President.
Terming the graduates as higher human resources of the country, Abdul Hamid said “Today’s convocation is giving recognition of your achievement and on the other hand, it is bestowing responsibilities on you. These responsibilities are towards your family, society, above all towards the country and nation.”
He said “Keep in mind that the country and the state have helped you reach this level. So you owe to the country. You can pay it back rough your knowledge and merit.”
The President stressed the need for combining entertainment with education saying that love for people, humanity, culture, tradition, and knowledge and technology-based techniques must be infused through education.
“We need an education that is creative and enlightens people. We don’t need only certificate-oriented education or the kind of education which rely on reading of textbooks and memorising guidebooks.”
Convocation speaker and former Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, UITS board of trustees chairman Sufi Mohamed Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury and UITS VC Dr Mohammad Samad spoke on the occasion.
Source: UNBConnect
