Number of teachers rising in private universities, but 25% are part-time: Most institutions not following the law

Staff Reporter | PNN:

Out of the 110 approved private universities in Bangladesh, 103 institutions currently running educational programs employ a total of 17,479 teachers. However, despite the increase in faculty numbers, the proportion of part-time teachers in these universities exceeds one-third of the full-time faculty, which is not compliant with the existing law.

This information comes from the recently published 50th Annual Report-2023 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh.

According to the UGC report, approximately 75% of teachers in private universities are full-time, while 25% are part-time.

Under Section 35(3) of the Private University Act, 2010, "The number of part-time teachers in any department or program of a private university shall not exceed one-third of the number of full-time teachers."

The UGC report highlights that in most private universities during the reported year, the number of part-time teachers exceeded the number of full-time teachers, which is legally non-compliant.

The report also states that the number of full-time teachers in private universities increased by 1,156 from the previous year, reaching 13,169. Meanwhile, the number of part-time teachers rose by 305, totaling 4,310.

Breakdown of full-time teachers by position:

• Professor: 952
  
  

• Associate Professor: 1,119
  
  

• Assistant Professor: 3,410
  
  

• Lecturer: 7,478
  
  

• Others: 210
  
  

Breakdown of part-time teachers by position:

• Professor: 1,007
  
  

• Associate Professor: 599
  
  

• Assistant Professor: 698
  
  

• Lecturer: 1,650
  
  

• Others: 356