The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is going to slash the admission fee of private dental colleges by Tk 5.5 lakh in a bid to attract more students. The fee will be set at Tk 11 lakh – from the previous Tk 16.50 lakh – for the academic year 2024-25.
This fee was Tk 19 lakh for academic session 2022-23. It should be noted that out of 1,405 seats in private dental colleges, only 500 students got admitted this year, indicating that nearly one-third of the seats stayed vacant.
The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) mentioned two reasons behind the move – to bring dental college education within the reach of the middle class segment, and bring more students into dental colleges.
Confirming the matter to The Business Post, Prof Dr Mohiuddin Matubbar, director (Medical Education), said, “We are going to implement the decision after consulting with authorities of private dental medical colleges.
“The Private Dental Medical Association has agreed to reduce the overall fee for dental college education. I think it will be a positive move to attract the students. At the same time, the colleges must ensure quality education. This initiative could become ineffective, even dangerous if education quality is neglected.”
He then said, “We have been observing the teaching and learning process. We will compel the private medical colleges to follow the new "The Private Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges Act, 2021.”
Bangladesh Private Dental College Association President Prof Dr Mohiuddin Ahmed said, “The admission process was delayed this year, and this is why we received fewer students. At the same time, the fees were burdensome for the dental students.
“Dental surgeries are very important, and a necessary part of dental treatment. But the importance of this study is still not recognised by society. That is why many are reluctant to admit their sons and daughters to dental colleges. But we need more dental surgeons in the country to meet the existing demand.”
He continued, “We are trying to encourage the middle class segment of the population. It will be burdensome for the middle class students to bear the existing fees. We have held a series of meetings and decided to reduce the fees. Now it will be Tk11 lakh from the next session.”
According to DME sources, there are 26 private dental colleges and units, and 9 government dental colleges in the country with more than 5,000 students.
Ministry officials say there are only 1,350 dental surgeons in the country, which is very few in terms of population, as Bangladesh needs at least 35,000 dental surgeons.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the ratio of dental surgeon to population should be one to 5,000 people.
“We always ask the colleges to follow our directives. We will take action if anyone violates our directives,” said Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council President Prof Dr Mahmud Hasan.
What do experts say?
M Iqbal Arslan, former dean of the Faculty of Basic Science and Para clinical Science at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), said dental college education should not be commercial.
He pointed out, “I welcome the decision to reduce the fees, but the ministry must monitor the overall academic quality. It will be bad if we provide substandard education to the students after fees are lowered.
“These students will be surgeons in the future, and the risk of mistreatment could go up if they fail to get a proper education. I am urging the ministry, as well as the private dental colleges, to ensure quality education.”
The medical education sector will face acute problems in the coming days if it is not strictly monitored, he added.
The admission fee for private medical colleges has been fixed at Tk 19,44,000.
