Science and technology universities in Bangladesh were established to produce specialised graduates in these fields. However, many of these institutions now offer courses in humanities, social sciences, business studies, and even agriculture. At some universities, nearly half the students are enrolled in non-STEM subjects, and this trend is on the rise.
In response, the government has taken steps to curb this expansion. In a recent letter to vice-chancellors, the Ministry of Education stated that science and technology universities must only include STEM-related subjects in their curricula. Additionally, ongoing programmes in other disciplines must be phased out within a reasonable timeframe.
The directive, issued on 13 March and signed by ASM Kasem, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, has been confirmed by the ministry.
However, shutting down departments in public universities is not a straightforward process, as once a programme is introduced, discontinuing it can be challenging and may spark significant reactions.
Currently, there are 55 public universities in Bangladesh, alongside 116 approved private universities. Among them, 18 public institutions have been designated as science and technology universities.
The ministry’s letter highlighted that these universities were approved as specialised institutions for education and research in STEM subjects. However, many are now offering similar programmes within close proximity, while some have introduced courses beyond their designated scope.
In this context, the ministry has made four key recommendations:
- Science and technology universities within 100 kilometres of each other should be treated as part of the same “catchment area” and should avoid offering identical academic programmes.
- If similar programmes are already in place within a catchment area, universities must phase them out within a reasonable timeframe.
- Curricula should be updated to include modern and relevant STEM subjects.
- Non-STEM subjects must not be included in science and technology universities’ curricula. Existing programmes in such disciplines must be phased out within a reasonable timeframe.