DU Budget 2020-21: Research gets low priority yet again

Despite repeated complaints from different sections of academics and students on Dhaka University's lack of research work, the university's newest budget still paints a bleak picture for the sector. Moreover, the authorities did not spend the full amount allocated in education and research sector for the last fiscal year (2019-2020), according to the revised budget.

Tk 869.56 crore budget for fiscal year 2020-21 was placed at the second chapter of annual Senate session, which was adjourned on June 14.

It was initially approved on June 28 by finance committee and later on by the syndicate on Monday.

In last year's budget, the total allocation for research was 40 crore 60 lakh 70 thousand taka. But in the revised budget, total spending in the sector last year was shown to be Tk 36.62 crore.

This is not a first-time occurrence, rather the university has not been able to spend the allocated amount for research several times in the last decade.

According to the university budget book, in 2016-17, 12.16 crore was allocated while Tk 8.16 core was spent.

In 2014-15, Tk 2.36 crore was spent from the Tk 3 crore allocation; in 2012-13 Tk 1.95 crore was spent from the Tk 2.95 crore allocation and 2.08 crore out of the allocated 2.71 crore was spent in FY 2011-12.

Talking to The Daily Star, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed, Director of Centre for Genocide Studies, admitted that there has been surplus in research allocation several times.

"There are some reasons behind this, firstly we could not make this university a research-based institution rather it has become teaching-based. Secondly,  teachers' promotion does not depend of research nowadays so they do not feel the urge to conduct research or  publish it in peer-reviewed journals. Moreover, faculty deans who are entrusted with the duty of disbursing the research money, has to remain busy with admission test for which they could hardly pay attention to monitor research works of the teachers," he said.

Prof Imtiaz also said an admission-focused dean should be recruited to curb the admission test related workload on the deans.

Of the proposed budget, University Grants Commission (UGC) will provide Tk 748.56 crore (86.03%), some Tk 71 crore (8.17%) will be met from university's internal resources and the rest Tk 50 crore remains a deficit.

Like previous years, a major portion of the budget, 482.77 crores or 69.9 percent would be spent for salaries, allowances, and pensions of teachers and employees.

Tk 1 crore each has been allocated for two newly created sectors, one to support the teachers financially while publishing their research articles in international journals and another is an exchange programme for students at home and abroad, treasurer Prof Md Kamal Uddin said in the foreword.

PERCENTAGE OF RESEARCH ALLOCATION KEEPS DECREASING

The percentage of allocation in education and research sector has been decreasing for the past two years. This year's proposed budget allocates 4.7 percent in this sector, while this percentage was 5.04 and 6.66 in 2019-20 and 2018-19.

Of the Tk 40.19 crore allocated for education and research sector, Tk 9.5 crore has been proposed for research purposes solely, of which Tk 7.5 crore will be given to the 56 departments, projects and centres of DU. The other Tk 2 crore will be given as special grants for research projects.

Treasurer Prof Md Kamal Uddin said proper financial information could not be collected due to the ongoing closure and necessary correction would be done in the revised budget if needed.

He also said, education and research activities are being severely hampered due to the lack of patronage from government in allocating funds and the administration not following financial regulations.

Prof Kamal alerted that disaster is inevitable if the concerned  people  do not take immediate steps.