'Utter disgrace' at SOAS

HAMZA A. BAJWA writes from London

"Utter disgrace" was the harsh words expressed in response to a London University's controversial decision to discard its unique Bengali degree course this week.

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), the only institution of higher education in the West to offer such a language course, has again been met with heavy criticism and accused by its Student Union (SU) as "another example of SOAS management style where [the] needs of students and advice of academic staffs" have been ignored.

Mushtaq Ahmad, President of the SU, told The Muslim Weekly that it was an "utter disgrace" for an "institution of this level not to have a senior full time Lectureship," adding that such a decision did not "serve [SOAS'] core mission statement of enhancing understanding between different cultures".

Following SOAS' Director Colin Bundy's announcement last month of "budget cuts across the board after registering heavy financial losses, attributed to a shortfall in international students," a motion was passed by the SU shortly thereafter in response to a surprising U-turn made by the School over the initial approval of a part-time Lector for Bengali. Proposed by Mr. Ahmad and seconded by NUS delegate Clare Solomon, the motion argues that the appointment of a part-time Lector was in fact "affordable, justifiable and achievable."

Mr. Ahmad said that the money generated by Dr William Radice's "selfless decision" to go part time would "easily have covered a 0.5 Lectorship" and that the doctor was "very upset" that the school has not given the go-ahead of appointing a Lectorship".

The campaign has found strong backing including George Galloway, MP

for Bethnal Green and Bow, who said: "This was the only institution to offer a degree option in Bengali in Europe, and in the western world. There are many Bengali speakers now living and studying in Britain. This course is a vital opportunity for both Bengali and non-Bengali speakers to pursue a course in Bengali. The financial crisis and cuts in higher education are entirely of the government's own making. We must not allow education in this country to suffer. I fully support the students' union's efforts to re-open this course and will do everything I can to help get it re-opened."