Bangladesh needs qualified teachers in IT sector

Prof. Suraiya Parvin, left, teaches in her classroom at Dhaka University.

Information and communication technology (ICT) has ushered in a new opportunity for the educated womenfolk inBangladesh. The new technology of the information age has not only created opportunities for the women in job outside, but also helped them earn through outsourcing and freelancing in the IT sector.

“The ICT is making our girls more confident and responsible with economic empowerment in spite of various social barriers”, said Dr. Suraiya Parvin, Professor of the Dhaka University department of Computer Science and Engineering.

She  said, since  the  education system  in  Bangladesh is  job  oriented,  the  IT provides a  secured  and  dignified  job  for  both  men  and  women.  However, it is considered to be more suitable for the women as a professional career, she said.

In  her  department  that  she has been running  as  the Chairman  for the last three years, Dr Suraiya Parvin  observed  that  nearly 25 percent of girls are enrolled  in  the  four-year  graduation  course. However, most of the graduates are absorbed in jobs even before the announcement of their final results.   

 “Our  graduates  are  getting  employment  opportunity  in  the  software  firms, telecommunication sector and  IT  departments  in  different  corporate companies  while many of  the  brilliant  boys  and girls  are  going  to   teaching profession ”  she said.   

Dr Suraiya Parvin

Dr. Suraiya Parvin, who is also the Vice President of Women and Technology organisation,  felt proud to mention the name of one of her students, Anna Fariha, who stood first in the 13^th batch of graduates.  Anna  is  now  studying   in  Master’s  degree  course  but  meanwhile  she  has  joined  a  private  university  as a lecturer in computer  science.

Dhaka University launched Department of Computer Science and Engineering in September 1992 for providing higher studies and research in computer science.

The department has so far produced a total of 14 batches of graduates – about 60 in each batch. The  department  also  runs one and a half years  Master’s  degree program having  50 percent marks  in theoretical  knowledge  and  another  50 percent  in  thesis.  The  13th  batch  of Masters  course  is  now running. 

“We  at  Dhaka  University  pursue  the academic  course  in  computer  science  the same  as  offered  by  the Bangladesh University of Engineering  and Technology ( BUET). But  we  have  some  limitations  in  terms  of  laboratory facilities, research  and development  program,” Dr. Suraiya Parvin said adding that  they have  no  separate class room  for  the master’s  students. They share class rooms with other students in graduation course.

Meanwhile,  considering  the importance of  digital  literacy  for  developing  a digital Bangladesh,  Dhaka University  department  of  Computer Science and Engineering have initiated a short  course  in computer  science  specially  designed  for  the  working  professionals.

In the short course, the department will impart knowledge in Linux and open office applications, Linux system administration and configuration, internet security, Web design and development, e-governance, data management, and IPv6 deployment.   

Referring  to  crisis  in  higher  education  in  computer  science  and  engineering, Dr. Suraiya  said  there  are acute shortage  of  qualified  teachers  at the university level because of lucrative  jobs  and  higher education  opportunities available abroad.

At  Dhaka University  department  of  Computer science  and  Engineering, there  are at present only 20 teachers  available  for  teaching. Seventeen  others  are  now  pursuing higher education and PhD courses in foreign universities. Many of the teachers migrated abroad availing better opportunities, she said.

“We  in  the  department  do not  feel  overworked  but  we  also feel  that  we  can not  devote  enough time for research  programs at the  university”  said  Prof. Suraiya  Parvin.

She  observed  that   the  shortage  of  computer  teachers  was  even more acute  in private  universities and training institutes outside  Dhaka.  “It  is  essential  to train and produce larger number of qualified teachers and  provide  them  with better  opportunities  at  home  so  that  they  can engage themselves in training and preparation to be able to develop a huge manpower resource in the IT  sector in the country,  she  said. займы на карту маэстро круглосуточно