DUCSU launches teacher evaluation site, sparks controversy

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) has sparked intense debate on campus after launching an independent teacher evaluation portal named 'DUEvaluation'.

DUCSU Vice President Abu Sadik Kayem and executive member Umme Uswatun Rafia formally inaugurated the platform at a press conference on September 11. The initiative aims to enhance academic accountability and teaching quality, according to DUCSU leaders, who noted that they proceeded independently after the administration delayed implementing a similar system.

Vice Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam expressed sharp disapproval on Sunday, stating that DUCSU's unilateral move has created a rift in teacher-student relations.

The Vice Chancellor warned that action would be taken in line with university rules, clarifying that the administration had already approved a formal teacher evaluation system set to roll out in the 2026-27 academic session.

Data collected from the site prior to review privacy restrictions on September 17 shows that 1,243 out of 2,045 DU faculty members - representing 60.8 per cent - received student reviews. 

Among reviewed teachers, 50.9 per cent achieved average ratings of 4 or higher out of 5, including 148 faculty members with perfect scores. However, 183 teachers received ratings below 2, accounting for nearly 15 per cent of the evaluated faculty.

The platform allows students to rate teachers on a 0 to 5 scale and write feedback using institutional email credentials. Faculty members, including Associate Professor Dr Khorshed Alam of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department, criticized the portal as an unauthorized intrusion that could fuel campus unrest.

Conversely, general students have welcomed the mechanism as a tool for constructive feedback.

-SA