Most of the students of the residential halls of Dhaka University don't know their house tutors. Students claimed that they rarely knew the house tutors in their halls.
According to the 1973 university ordinance, house tutors are assigned the responsibility of supervising and controlling the residence, maintaining the discipline of the students, regulating their extracurricular activities, and ensuring their health and hygiene, among other rules and regulations.
But in reality, only a few house tutors, basically in boys dormitories, visit their hall and respective blocks, claimed a couple of students.
Reportedly, there are 150 house tutors for the male students’ halls and 73 for the girls' halls.
Several hall house tutors responded, "House tutor is an administrative post; every university teacher must partake in this duty during their teaching career. They used to be busy with their regular academic and classroom activities. The hall provost is the main person responsible for student affairs in a hall. So it is not necessary to be present all the time in the hall for the house tutors.
One house tutor from the Bijoy Ekattor Hall told the daily Bangladesh Post that “our house tutors don’t visit the hall anymore; even if we have been facing problems here, we don't know what to do then.”
A student of Mukti Juddha Ziaur Rahman Hall who recently completed his masters said, I haven’t seen house tutors for five years, and neither did they communicate with us.
Furthermore, nearly seven or eight residents of the hall also expressed dissatisfaction over not knowing the name of their house tutor.
On the contrary, honorariums for this post make them obligated to carry out their basic duties. If they are willing to enjoy these benefits, why are they not willing to provide basic guidance and counselling to the students as required by the university guidelines?
In this regard, when asked about this issue, Iqbal Roaf Mamun, president of the provost standing committee, said that when our house tutor visits the hall, the students may not be there. That’s why they don't know. And as far as I know, every house tutor visits their hall twice a week. After visiting, they entered it in the database.
University insiders said that university residential hall house tutors play a vital role in nurturing a supportive environment for students by offering personalised support and guidance. They address personal and academic concerns while prioritising the safety and security of the dormitory through rule enforcement and conflict resolution.
By organising social and educational activities, they foster a sense of community and belonging among residents, promoting a vibrant living environment. During emergencies, house tutors coordinate response efforts and connect students with campus resources, ensuring their well-being. Overall, their dedication contributes significantly to student welfare and academic success.
