By NNN-BSS,
Dhaka : The Ministry of Education has undertaken a plan to boost professional skills of technical workers through new policies, in the wake of growing competitiveness for skilled labour at home and abroad.
As part of the plan, a five-year technical education reform project styled ‘Bangladesh Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Reform’ was launched on Saturday.
Launched at Hotel Sonargaon, the project mainly focuses on rejuvenating country’s technical and vocational education and their relevant training schemes.
Director general of the Directorate of the Technical Education Prof. Mohammad Abul Bashar chaired it.
Education Secretary Mohammad Momtajul Islam attended the function as the chief guest, while Labour and Employment Secretary Dr Mahfuzul Haque and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Abdul Matin Chowdhury were present as special guests.
Director of Skills and Employment Department of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Geneva, Christine Evans Klock and charge d’ Affairs of the Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh Brian Forey were also present.
Momtajul Islam said the proposed reforms in the technical and vocational education systems would not only help creating skilled workforce attuned to world requirements but also supplement poverty alleviation process through job creation at home and abroad.
Dr. Mahfuzul Haque said the project was to contribute largely to the improvement of productivity in industrial units worldwide.
Dr Mahfuz said the five-year project, which would come to an end in 2012 at a cost of Taka 136 crore, has a special focus on strengthening the mechanism to meet the labour market demand.
(One Crore: ten million)
“The project has some major components including upgrading the TVET policies at all segments, improvement of training curriculum, exploration of labour market information and improving access of underprivileged groups to such opportunities,” Matin Chowdhury said.
Prof Bashar said Bangladesh could be benefited immensely from its promising pharmaceutical and RMG sector through improving the skills of their managers, staffs and workers. The skills of concerned trainers and teachers should also be raised, he added.
Christine said business environment across the globe witnessed a stiff competition due to impact of the globalization and rapid technological changes.
To compete with the competition, Evans said, many developing countries including Bangladesh should act proactively to increase labour productivity through skill development programmes.
Terming the project as comprehensive to boost work skills, Brian said the development of skilled workforce could play a significant role to produce quality products, bring higher return from exports and generate employment opportunities at home and abroad.
Upon completion of the project, he hoped, Bangladesh would have an energetic and dynamic workforce, who would project the country with a changed image before the world.