Teacher appointment mess

The news is worrying for a host of reasons. First, it seems that not the best available candidates were recruited to the vacant posts. Secondly, it smacks of favouritism bordering on attempted politicisation. It is indeed surprising that the eligibility of a candidate is being judged by his perceived political identity, or , to put it precisely, political affiliation is getting precedence over merit. Thirdly, the whole process has been lacking in transparency. And we have learnt at a great cost to higher education the price of politically-induced backdoor appointments to the higher academia.

The university authorities should carry out the review of the appointments they have finally decided upon and put the right man in the right place thereby marking a departure from the culture of appointing teachers on the basis of political connections, once and for all.

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The DU teachers themselves have been critical of the way the latest appointments were made. The credibility of the university that must have academic integrity as an article of faith is once again on the line. We think it is essential that the vice-chancellor comes out with an explanation for the appointment mess.

Let us emphasise once again that if Dhaka University fails to ensure transparency in the recruitment of its manpower what chance other institutions have to do it for themselves?