Report No. 65 South Asia Human Development Sector A Study on National University and Affiliated Colleges Public Disclosure Authorized in Bangladesh January 2014 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Discussion Paper Series Report No. 65 South Asia Human Development Sector A Study on National University and Affiliated Colleges in Bangladesh January 2014 Discussion Paper Series Discussion Papers are published to communicate the results of the World Bank’s work to the development community with the least possible delay. The typescript manuscript of this paper therefore has not been prepared in accordance with the procedures appropriate to the formally edited texts. Some sources cited in the paper may be informal documents that are not readily available. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/ The World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... i 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Objective of the Study .................................................................................................. 2 1.2. Methodology ................................................................................................................. 2 2. Higher Education in Bangladesh: Universities and Colleges .................................................. 3 2.1. Structure of Higher Education ...................................................................................... 3 2.2. Genesis of National University and Affiliated Colleges in Bangladesh ....................... 6 2.3. Institutional Arrangements of College Education System ............................................ 7 3. Access and Equity in Higher Education in Bangladesh: How National University and Affiliated Colleges Contribute ................................................................................................ 9 3.1. Where does Bangladesh stand in terms of Access to Higher Education? ..................... 9 3.2. What is the Share of Colleges that Provide Higher Education in Bangladesh? .......... 10 3.3. Who are the Students? ................................................................................................ 11 3.4. Issues for Consideration .............................................................................................. 12 4. Quality and Relevance of Teaching and Learning in Colleges ............................................. 17 4.1. Who are the teachers? ................................................................................................. 17 4.2. What do students learn? .............................................................................................. 20 4.3. How is student performance assessed? ....................................................................... 22 4.4. How do college graduate perform in the labor market? ............................................. 23 4.5. Issues for consideration............................................................................................... 24 5. Financing and Financial Management in Colleges ............................................................... 26 5.1. Higher Education Financing ....................................................................................... 26 5.2. Financing and Financial Management of National University and Affiliated Colleges ................................................................................................................................. 27 6. Governance and Management of National University and Affiliated Colleges .................... 31 6.1. Governance of the National University ...................................................................... 31 6.2. Governance of colleges ............................................................................................... 32 6.3. Affiliation of Colleges ................................................................................................ 32 6.4. Governing Bodies of Affiliated Colleges ................................................................... 33 6.5. Subvention to affiliated Colleges ................................................................................ 33 6.6. Issues for consideration............................................................................................... 33 7. Policy Options ....................................................................................................................... 37 Annex 1: Key Data Sources and Data Limitations ....................................................................... 41 Annex 2: Education System in Bangladesh .................................................................................. 43 Annex 3: SSC and HSC Equivalent Examinations Graduate Numbers and Pass Rates (2007- 2012) ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Annex 4: Overview of funding procedures in HE in different countries throughout the World . 48 References .................................................................................................................................... 55 Figures Figure 1: Population (188+) with Grade 12+ Education in Bangladesh Figure 2: Tertiary GER – Where Bangladesh Stands in Comparison to World and Neighboring Countries Figure 3: Average CGPA by Institution Type Figure 4: Share of population with different level of education by generations Figure 5: Demand and seats available for tertiary education Figure 6: Access to Higher Education by Generation and Poverty Groups Figure 7: per Student Yearly Institutional Expenses by Type of Colleges Figure 8: Education Financing Figure 9: National University’s sources of Income 2010/11 Figure 10: National University’s Heads of Expenditure 2010/11 Tables Table 1: Institutions, Enrollment and Teachers in Higher Education in Bangladesh, 2010 Table 2: College Education System in Bangladesh 2010 Table 3: Tertiary Education Colleges in Bangladesh Number of Teachers and Students by Management and sex, 2010 Table 4: Institutional Matrix of College Education Governance in Bangladesh Table 5: Share of students in each income group by type of institution Table 6: Population with Grade 12 plus Education in Bangladesh Table 7: Projection Analysis Table 8 (a): Profile of College Teachers by Category of Colleges Table 8 (b): Resources for Teaching and Learning Table 9: GoB Allocation to Ministry of Education, Universities and Public Colleges (in Billion Taka) Table 10: Disbursement of MPO Subvention (In BDT million) Table 11: Description of the Colley Study Sample Boxes Box 1: Strategic Plan for Higher education in Bangladesh 2006-2026 Box 2: Examples of Multifaceted and perplexing policy initiatives Box 3: Raising the Connectivity Capacity of the Higher Education Sector Acknowledgements The team benefited significantly from consultations with the representatives from the Ministry of Education, the National University, the University Grants Commission, public and private colleges, the National Academy for Education Management (NAEM), the Nongovernment Teacher Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA), the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS), and private sector entrepreneurs. Four background papers for the study were prepared by Salma Akhter and Halima Akhter (Access and Equity), Rabiul Islam and Jahidul Islam (Quality), Salahuddin Aminuzzaman and Mustari Miskat (Governnane), and Omar Al Farooque and Mujibul Kabir (Finance). The findings of the study contributed to the preparation of Skills Development Policy Note of the Bangladesh Education Sector Review 2013. This report was written by a team composed of Yoko Nagashima and Mokhlesur Rahman (Co- Task Team Leaders), Syed Rashed Al-Zayed Josh, Subrata S. Dhar, Shinsaku Nomura, Muhammad Asahabur Rahman, and Hena Mukherjee. This work has benefited from the generous financial support of the Education Program Development Fund. The team is grateful for the overall guidance provided by Amit Dar, and useful feedback and input from Leonie Siok Yoong Lee, former secondee at the World Bank from the Government of Singapore, and World Bank colleagues, including Hiroshi Saeki, Ayesha Vawda, Dilip Parajuli, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, and Seo Yeon Hong. Data Analysis and Technical Assistance Limited (DATA) conducted the field work for the College Study Survey and prepared the data. This report was edited by Michelle Klink. Sandra Alborta assisted in preparing the report for final publication. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this report are entirely those of the authors. Acronyms and Abbreviations BANBEIS Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics BBS Bangladesh Bureau