Bureaucratic Process in University Admission : A Student’s Perspective
Speaking the truth, before I entered into this course of public administration, I used to think that bureaucracy lies only in the secretariat. But after reading the theories, relating the proposed characteristics of Weber, I could realize that bureaucratic system is strung in others non-government and government organizations too, and also is in our university administration. As Max Weber introduced, following those characteristics, this administration is hierarchically organized containing certain administrative rules and regulation. VC, pro-VC, treasurer, deans, chairman, faculties, ragistrar, section officers, their assistants and so on. The hierarchy is so vast. In office management, division of labors and specialization of tasks are evident. Office works get conducted through written documents preserved in original or draught form. The office is separate from the private domicile of the officials, and none is considered a personal servant here. The official activities of every sector in our university demands full capacity of every individual employee. They are also appointed with a firmly prescribed course of qualification. Every employee gets appointed by the superior authority. Their tenure for life is also presupposed, with a fixed salary and a desire of promotion in career. So, the administration of university can be considered as a frontline bureaucracy.
Moving to an experience of its bureaicratic process, in 2017, I got passed in the admission test of University of Dhaka, with a secured merit position. We were given a viva date 5th November, 2017. It was informed online. After a couple of days of viva, we were told through a notice in university website to be present at the department office. There was no more information about the date or timeline of admission. There was mentioned what documents we shall have to keep with us. But the money amount was not mentioned. On the very day, I went to the department office at 9 AM. As we were told to be present on 9 AM in the notice. The officers opened the office at 10 AM. One of the officer informed that the admission process would start on that very day. I was prepared to hear this declaration. I had adequate money with me. But many of the present students were not prepared with the required money. All the students were standing in a line, when they called my name, I went there and then submitted my documents. They also gave me some document papers and told me to go to the attached hall. Me and my friends went to the hall, submitted my document papers in the office. We needed the signatures of provost mam. But unfortunately, provost mam was not present then. They kept it in hall office and told us to collect it on the next day. After taking her signatures, I had to fill up some more papers sitting in the hall office. Then they told us to go to the bank and to deposit the specific amount of money. We did so. The person who received my money, kept required parts of documents and asked me to go to my hall again. I again came back to my hall, gave those papers to an officer. Well, then I returned to the department office and they took my final signature. Finally I got admitted in the university.
In this case, I was prepared to give my admission fees on that very day, because my guardian was with me. But many students, even their guardians were not prepared as they were not informed earlier. On this day of internet and websites, we could be informed about the fees earlier.
I was lucky enough because my hall was not far from my department. But some of my friends, whose hall was not near, they faced more difficulties. As we were new in the city as well as university, we were not acquainted with the campus. Again, many of those freshers face problems regarding places to stay. The Red Tape procedure of admission makes an untoward situation for those students. Too much adherence to old traditional procedures is making the students suffer. In this age of science and technology, the admission procedure can be completed in a less time with more efficiency, if the application of technology gets expanded and the employees from every sectors are limited in one office for admission of students.
Relating the present situation to POSDCORB theory of Luther Gulick, from my perspective, the reformation should be first of all, in planning. A plan considering the student’s issues, more efficiency of office works with less waste of time, should be adopted. Then proper direction to be upgraded with new and modern methods is needed, that is insufficient now. There is a huge gap in cooperation among the offices. The offices of department, hall and bank are not well connected. This kinship should be developed. And the process of reporting is very necessary to be practiced frequently, that can detect the problems and causes of inefficiencies and help to be improved than before. There needs participation of both students and employees in a successful propulsion of reporting.
I expressed what I feel as a student, just my perspective. I apologize if there was any wrong information or mistakes.
