1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B.
Accessibility to higher education implies that students get the opportunity to get university education and sufficient support from educational institutions. Increasing enrolment at the secondary and higher secondary level puts pressure on higher educational institutions. But due to limited capacity, only a small number of students may be enrolled in universities. Thus, each year a large number of students are denied access to higher education. Also, due to poverty and increase in educational expenses, students of the lower middle class do not get easy access to higher education. Moreover, those who get places in the universities have limited access to avail all kinds of diversified educational facilities relating to their study fields.
Only about 12 percent of graduates enter higher educational institution. More than 80 percent of these students are admitted to NU affiliated colleges. Others are absorbed by the public and private universities. In the last two decades. there has been a substantial rise in the number of students in private universities. According to the UGC Annual Report 2010, the number rose from 88,669 in 2005 to 2,00,752 in 2010.
Public Universities are the first choices of most students. The public universities offer a wide range of subjects in Science. Commerce, Liberal Arts, Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Law, Education and Medicine. Public universities attract the best minds to teaching although monetary compensation for teachers is anything but attractive. Library, laboratory, Internet and research facilities are much better there than anywhere else in the country. Seminars, symposiums, lectures, workshops, debates, and exhibitions are often held in these institutions and there is ample scope for national and international exposure for promising young knowledge seekers. Moreover, public universities offer residential and boarding facilities at low cost/subsidized rates.
A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5
(a) Most of the students prefer —.
(i) Private Universities (ii) Public Universities
(iii) National Universities (iv) World Universities
(b) What is the meaning of the word 'private'?
(i) public (ii) non-government (iii) official (iv) universal
(c) What is the synonym of the word 'residential'?
(i) suburban (ii) business (iii) industrial (iv) manufactured
(d) What percentage of students fail to get admitted into public universities?
(i) 30% (ii) 80% (iii) 65% (iv) 90%
(e) What is the closest meaning of the word 'promising'?
(i) discouraging (ii) hopeful (iii) inauspicious (iv) unlikely
(f) Synonym of 'accessibility' is —.
(i) disability (ii) inaccessibility (iii) availability (iv) ability
(g) What does the word 'sufficient' mean?
(i) ample (ii) deficient (iii) insufficient (iv) spacious
(h) What is the closest meaning of the word 'exposure'?
(i) disclose (ii) publicize (iii) revelation (iv) make known
(i) What does the word 'ample scope for' mean?
(i) enough opportunity (ii) sufficient (iii) no opportunity (iv) meagre
(j) "Thus each year a large number of students are denied access to higher education." What does it imply?
(i) all the students do not get benefit of tertiary education
(ii) lack of seat in tertiary education
(iii) all the students get chance
(iv) both i & ii
(k) What does the word- 'best minds' mean in the given passage?
(i) best students (ii) decent students (iii) decent teachers (iv) best teachers
(l) Synonym of 'imply' is —.
(i) connotates (ii) offers (iii) pays (iv) donates
Answer (A):
(a) (ii) Public Universities (b) (ii) non-government (c) (i) suburban (d) (ii) 80% (e) (ii) hopeful (f) (iii) availability (g) (i) ample (h) (iii) revelation (i) (i) enough opportunity (j) (iv) both i & ii (k) (iv) best teachers (l) (i) connotates
B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10
(a) Why is higher education important?
(b) Which are the NU affiliated colleges?
(c) What is the full meaning of 'UGC'? What was the Annual Report 2010 of UGC about private universities?
(d) What are the differences between public and private universities in Bangladesh? Give your own view briefly.
(e) Why are public universities the first choice of most students?
(f) What are the benefits of a public university?
(g) How many NU affiliated colleges provide tertiary level education? What courses of studies do they offer?
(h) Which things put pressure on higher educational institutions and how?
(i) Do you think that private universities in Bangladesh can play an important role in case of higher education? Place comment in support of your answer.
Answer (B):
(a) Since education is the backbone of a nation, higher education is important for the people of a nation to keep pace with the developed world. Higher education means higher knowledge which is the potential key for an individual to get better job, better salary, to enjoy higher dignity in the society. Moreover, it offers ample scope for national and international exposures for talented students.
(b) NU affiliated colleges are those colleges which are granted affiliation for graduate and post graduate education by the National University. More than 80% of the students who fail to get admitted into public colleges or universities, receive higher education in these colleges.
(c) The full meaning of 'UGC' is 'University Grant Commission'. According to the UGC Annual Report 2010, the number of students rose from 88,669 in 2005 to 2,00,752 in 2010.
(d) The differences between public and private universities are given below:
(i) Getting admission in public universities is not so easy as there are lots of competitions. But private universities don't have this competition.
(ii) The quality of education in public university is higher than private university.
(iii) Most of the private universities are commercial but public universities are totally different from this point of view.
(e) Public universities are the first choice of most students because they provide a wide range of subjects in different disciplines, engage talented teachers, provide better library, laboratory and research facilities, create ample scope for national and international exposure and offer residential and boarding facilities at a low cost.
(f) The benefits of public universities are many. They are (i) offering a wide range of subjects, (ii) talented teachers, (iii) providing better library, laboratory and research facilities, (iv) arranging seminars, meetings and debates, (v) creating enough scope for individual exposure etc.
(g) At present about 1400 NU affiliated colleges provide tertiary level education in Bangladesh. Most of them offer B.A (Pass) education of three year duration. Only one third of them offer B.A (Honors) courses and some offer M.A degrees as well.
(h) Increasing enrolment at the secondary and higher secondary level puts pressure on higher educational institutions. Nowadays, a great number of students apply for higher studies in different public universities and medical colleges in our country. But, the capacity of admitting students to these universities and colleges is very much limited. Thus it puts pressure on the institutions.
(i) The number of private universities is increasing a lot and many students get admission in these private universities. If these universities ensure quality education environment for students, I think then private universities in Bangladesh can play an important role in case of higher education.
MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions):
What does accessibility to higher education imply?
a) Only financial support from educational institutions
b) The opportunity to get university education and sufficient support
c) Increased enrollment at the secondary level
d) Free access to education for all students
Answer: b) The opportunity to get university education and sufficient support
What is the main issue regarding access to higher education mentioned in the passage?
a) Limited scholarship opportunities
b) Limited capacity of higher educational institutions
c) Lack of qualified teachers
d) Overcrowded secondary schools
Answer: b) Limited capacity of higher educational institutions
How many students graduate each year in relation to higher education access?
a) 80%
b) 12%
c) 50%
d) 10%
Answer: b) 12%
Where do the majority of students get admitted for higher education?
a) Private universities
b) Public universities
c) NU affiliated colleges
d) Foreign universities
Answer: c) NU affiliated colleges
Which university sector has seen a substantial rise in enrollment over the last two decades?
a) Public universities
b) Private universities
c) International universities
d) Local colleges
Answer: b) Private universities
According to the UGC Annual Report 2010, how many students were enrolled in private universities in 2010?
a) 88,669
b) 2,00,752
c) 1,00,000
d) 5,00,000
Answer: b) 2,00,752
Which type of university is considered the first choice for most students?
a) Private universities
b) Public universities
c) International universities
d) Technical colleges
Answer: b) Public universities
What subjects do public universities offer?
a) Only engineering and medicine
b) A wide range of subjects including Science, Commerce, and Humanities
c) Business only
d) Limited subjects like arts and commerce
Answer: b) A wide range of subjects including Science, Commerce, and Humanities
What is the state of monetary compensation for teachers in public universities?
a) Very attractive
b) Attractive compared to private sector
c) Not attractive
d) Depends on the subject taught
Answer: c) Not attractive
What facilities are better in public universities compared to other institutions?
a) Playground facilities
b) Internet and research facilities
c) Food facilities
d) Hostel accommodations
Answer: b) Internet and research facilities
Bangla Translation
বাংলা অনুবাদঃ
উচ্চশিক্ষার দিকে অভিগম্যতা বলতে শিক্ষার্থীদের বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে শিক্ষার সুযোগ ও শিক্ষাপ্রতিষ্ঠান থেকে পর্যাপ্ত সহায়তা পাওয়াকে বুঝায়। মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চ মাধ্যমিক পর্যায়ে তালিকাভুক্ত শিক্ষার্থীদের সংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি উচ্চশিক্ষার প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোতে চাপ সৃষ্টি করছে। কিন্তু সীমিত ধারণক্ষমতার কারণে খুব কম সংখ্যক শিক্ষার্থী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে তালিকাভুক্ত হতে পারে। এভাবেই, প্রতি বছর অনেক সংখ্যক শিক্ষার্থীরা উচ্চশিক্ষার সুযোগ থেকে বঞ্চিত হচ্ছে। দারিদ্র্য ও শিক্ষার ব্যয় বৃদ্ধির কারণেও নিæ মধ্যবিত্ত পরিবারের ছেলেমেয়েরা উচ্চ শিক্ষার সহজ সুযোগ পায় না। অধিকন্তু যারা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে পড়ার সুযোগ পায়, তারা তাদের লেখাপড়ার বিষয়ের সাথে সম্পৃক্ত বিভিন্ন সুযোগ সুবিধা সীমিতরূপেই পায়।
শুধু ১২ শতাংশ স্নাতক উচ্চশিক্ষার প্রতিষ্ঠানে প্রবেশ করে। তাদের মধ্যে ৮০ শতাংশের বেশি শিক্ষার্থী জাতীয় বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় অধিভুক্ত কলেজগুলোতে ভর্তি হয়। অন্যরা সরকারি ও বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে নিয়োজিত থাকে। গত দুদশকে বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে শিক্ষার্থী সংখ্যা উল্লেখযোগ্য হারে বেড়েছে। ২০১০ সালে ইউজিসি এর বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন অনুযায়ী ২০০৫ সালে এ সংখ্যা ৮৮,৬৬৯ থেকে বেড়ে ২০১০ সালে ২,০০,৭৫২ এ দাঁড়িয়েছে।
পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলো অধিকাংশ শিক্ষার্থীর প্রথম পছন্দ। পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে বিজ্ঞান, বাণিজ্য, সাহিত্যকলা, মানবিক, প্রকৌশল ও প্রযুক্তি, আইন, শিক্ষা ও চিকিৎসাবিদ্যা ইত্যাদি নানাবিধ বিষয় থাকে। পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলো সবচেয়ে মেধাবী লোকদের শিক্ষকতার দিকে টেনে নেয় যদিও তাদের আর্থিক দিকটি ততটা আকর্ষণীয় নয়। দেশের অন্যান্য জায়গার তুলনায় সেখানে লাইব্রেরী, গবেষণাগার, ইন্টারনেট এবং গবেষণার সুবিধা অনেক বেশি। সেমিনার, আলোচনা সভা, বক্তৃতা, কর্মশিবির, বিতর্ক এবং প্রদর্শনী এসব প্রতিষ্ঠানে প্রায়ই অনুষ্ঠিত হয় এবং সেখানে সম্ভাবনাময় তরুণ জ্ঞান আহরণকারীদের জন্য জাতীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিক পর্যায়ে পরিচিতির এক পর্যাপ্ত সুযোগ রয়েছে। অধিকন্তু পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলো স্বল্প খরচে বা আর্থিক অনুদান দিয়ে থাকা খাওয়ার ব্যবস্থা করে থাকে।
Short Questions with Elaborate Answers:
What are the main challenges students face in accessing higher education?Answer:The main challenges include limited capacity in universities, resulting in a large number of students being denied access to higher education. Moreover, financial barriers such as poverty and rising educational expenses make it difficult for students from lower-middle-class backgrounds to afford higher education. Even those who gain admission to universities often have limited access to diverse educational resources like libraries, research facilities, and other academic support.
How has the number of students in private universities changed over the years?Answer:Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of students attending private universities. According to the UGC Annual Report 2010, the number of students enrolled in private universities rose from 88,669 in 2005 to 2,00,752 in 2010, reflecting the growing popularity and expansion of private institutions.
What makes public universities the preferred choice for students?Answer:Public universities are the preferred choice due to the wide variety of subjects they offer, such as Science, Commerce, Liberal Arts, Humanities, Engineering, Law, and Medicine. These universities attract highly qualified teachers and offer better facilities like libraries, laboratories, and research opportunities compared to other institutions. Additionally, public universities provide residential and boarding facilities at subsidized rates, which is an added advantage.
What role do public universities play in the development of students' knowledge?Answer:Public universities play a significant role in enhancing students' knowledge through a combination of quality education, research facilities, and exposure to national and international opportunities. These universities regularly organize seminars, symposiums, lectures, and workshops, providing students with valuable experiences and fostering their intellectual growth.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of attending private universities?Answer:Advantages: Private universities often have smaller class sizes, more modern facilities, and flexible course options. They may also offer better student support services and extracurricular activities.Disadvantages: They tend to be more expensive than public universities, and the quality of education can vary significantly. Private universities may also offer fewer subjects and research opportunities compared to public institutions.
How does poverty affect students' access to higher education?Answer:Poverty makes it harder for students from lower-middle-class families to afford the rising costs of higher education, including tuition fees, textbooks, and other expenses. As a result, many talented students are forced to abandon their higher education dreams, limiting their future opportunities and career prospects.
What factors contribute to the overcrowding in universities?Answer:Factors such as an increasing number of students completing secondary and higher secondary education, limited capacity of educational institutions, and inadequate funding contribute to overcrowding in universities. The demand for university education exceeds the available spots, leading to a situation where many students are unable to secure admission.
What benefits do public universities offer in terms of research and academic development?Answer:Public universities provide students and faculty with access to extensive research facilities, including libraries, laboratories, and funding for academic projects. These institutions encourage intellectual development by hosting events like seminars and debates, fostering collaboration between students and faculty, and promoting research on both national and international issues.
What role do teachers play in public universities, despite low salaries?Answer:Teachers in public universities play a crucial role in shaping the future of students by providing high-quality education, mentorship, and guidance. Despite the low salaries, many teachers are passionate about their subjects and committed to contributing to the academic growth of their students. They often work with limited resources to ensure the best possible education for their students.
Why is it important to improve access to higher education?Answer:Improving access to higher education is essential for ensuring that all students, regardless of their socio-economic background, have the opportunity to develop their skills, pursue their academic interests, and contribute to the country's economic and social progress. It helps bridge inequality gaps, promotes social mobility, and ensures a more educated and skilled workforce.
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