President Abdul Hamid on Thursday asked the country’s universities — both the public and private ones — to play a supportive role like social welfare organisations apart from providing quality education keeping the country’s interest above everything.
“Education must not be commercialised in any way. The universities have to play a supportive role like social welfare organisations apart from providing quality education prioritising the interest of the country as well as the nation,” he said.
The President said this while addressing the 14th convocation of American International University — Bangladesh (AIUB) at Bangladesh Military Museum at Bijoy Sharani in the city.
A total of 2,730 students were awarded degrees at the convocation.
Mentioning that the rate of students in the country’s higher education is fourth in the world, the President said, “If we can create a larger number of world-class graduates through quality education, then it’s possible for the country to attain socioeconomic goals within a short time.”
The President, also the Chancellor of the university, said the main aim of education is to inspire the new generation with the spirit of the Liberation War, patriotism, nationalism, socialism, democracy and non-communalism in their thoughts, make them aware about national history, tradition, culture, and respectful about the country’s independence and sovereignty.
“We have to keep in mind that today we’re cosmopolitan citizens, not only of Bangladesh… We’ll fall behind if we can’t keep pace with other countries of the world. There’ll be no compromise when it comes to science-technology based education,” Hamid told his audience.
The President underscored the need for taking various programmes for flourishing the creativity of students apart from providing them with education about different branches of knowledge.
“Education is the first stair to build a nation. Education doesn’t mean only economic and social development, it also means developing students intellectually with non-communal spirit, and above all awakening deep patriotism,” the President observed.
The President went on: “The education system needs to be pragmatic. This education will nourish people’s aesthetic sense. We have to expand our research activities. Our universities have to achieve world-standard.”
Education must combine joy, affection for people, humanity, culture, tradition, and knowledge and technology-based techniques must be infused in education, the President said adding, “We need the education that can create creative and enlightened people, not the certificate-oriented education or the kind of education which rely on reading of textbooks and memorising guide books.”
Abdul Hamid said education is not a commodity and hoped that education will become the key to entering the world of enlightenment which has thousands of passages to it. “I hope the education will become the open window for the locked chamber of darkness and superstition.”
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, convocation speaker and UGC Chairman AK Azad Chowdhury, founder and vice president of AIUB Ishtiaque Abedin, AIUB Vice Chancellor Carmen Z Lamagna, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Source: UNB connect