A discussion meeting on promotional activities involving coordinators of various programmes of the Bangladesh Open University (BOU) was held at 10am in the university’s Chattogram Regional Centre on Sunday.
Vice-Chancellor of BOU Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan attended the event as the chief guest, reads a press release.
During the meeting, the VC attentively listened to the views presented by officials and employees of the Chattogram Regional Centre and its subordinate sub-regional centres, as well as coordinators of study centres operating under various ongoing programmes.
In his speech, he emphasised the importance of strengthening coordinated promotional activities to expand BOU’s educational programmes more effectively at the grassroots level.
The VC said Bangladesh Open University has been working with a humanitarian approach to provide education opportunities for marginalised, underprivileged and education-deprived people across the country.
However, he added the university has faced various challenges due to long-standing mismanagement, financial constraints and limited government support.
He mentioned that only 5 percent of the university’s total budget comes from the government, while the remaining amount is generated from students’ tuition and examination fees.
The VC also said the financial crisis had worsened after nearly Tk300 crore was transferred from the university’s own fund to the government treasury in previous years.
He said increasing student enrolment and ensuring quality education are now BOU’s main priorities. He added efforts are underway to improve the quality of educational activities and remove negative perceptions about the Open University.
He further said initiatives have been taken to eliminate session backlogs, enhance transparency in the examination system, ensure timely delivery of study materials and quickly resolve complications related to name corrections and scrutiny procedures.
The VC also informed that work is in progress to introduce a one-stop service-based software system to eliminate delays in the payment of honorariums.
Describing field-level coordinators as BOU’s most important stakeholders and brand ambassadors, he said the university’s educational activities are being successfully conducted through their support.
He stressed the need to encourage students towards open learning through stronger promotional activities on social media, at educational institutions and at the local level.
He also assured that the university administration would work sincerely to uphold the dignity and respect of teachers.
The VC further said coordinators would have to play a more active role in presenting the positive aspects of BOU’s various programmes to the general public in order to expand student-friendly and time-oriented education.
The meeting was chaired by Acting Regional Director of BOU’s Chattogram Regional Centre, Md Shaha Alam Sarkar.
Special guests included Vice-Chancellor of Premier University Professor SMNasrul Quadir; Principal of Government Commerce College, Chattogram and Coordinator of BOU MBA (Bangla) Programme Abdus Salam Hawlader; and Principal of Farhadabad School and College, Hathazari, Chattogram and Coordinator of BOU SSC Programme Md Mahbubul Alam.
Acting Registrar of BOU TM Ahmed Hossain delivered the welcome speech.
Among others, speeches were delivered by Vice-Principal of Sholoshahar Jamea Ahmadia Sunnia Kamil Madrasa, Chattogram and Coordinator of BOU BEd Programme ATM Liaqat Ali; Professor of the Department of Political Science at Government City College, Chattogram and Coordinator of BOU BA/BSS Programme Md Shamim Kabir; Principal and Coordinator of Bijoy Smarani College Study Centre, Bhatiary, Chattogram Shib Shankar Shil; and Assistant Professor of Rangunia Government College, Chattogram Muhammad Abdul Mabud.
Officials and employees of the Chattogram Regional Centre and its subordinate sub-regional centres submitted several proposals to the BOU authorities aimed at making the university’s educational activities more dynamic and student services more effective.
The proposals included introducing an automated process for question paper requisition from OSAPS, arranging training for officials and employees, recruiting manpower to address staff shortages, updating examiner information and performance-based records, and supplying modern computers and colour printers.
Demands were also raised for resolving manpower shortages and constructing a permanent building for the Patiya Sub-Regional Centre, as well as allocating promotional and maintenance budgets, infrastructure development, increased supply of diaries and calendars, and festival-related budgets for the Bandarban Sub-Regional Centre.
Representatives from the regional centre, sub-regional centres and coordinators of various programmes requested the BOU authorities to take necessary steps to resolve the issues discussed at the meeting.
The VC instructed that the problems and logical proposals for resolving them be submitted in written form. He also assured that the demands would be implemented gradually on a priority basis.
Officials and employees from BOU’s Chattogram Regional Centre and its subordinate centres in Khagrachhari, Bandarban, Rangamati and Cox’s Bazar, along with coordinators and tutors of different academic programmes, attended the meeting.
Detailed discussions were also held on expanding BOU’s educational activities, increasing student enrolment, and strengthening promotional activities in mass media and social media.
