Bangladesh is the eighth most populous country in the world which presents an immense opportunity in terms of labour force. Quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is essential in ensuring the country’s competitiveness in the global labour market, and ensuring decent work for all.

Together with the ILO and with the support of the European Union, Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) is making significant progress towards TVET reform.

According to Mr. Jiban Kumar Chowdhury Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Chief Executive Officer, National Skills Development Council (NSDC) Secretariat, “Skills, knowledge and innovation are driving forces of economic growth and social development globally. Countries with higher levels of education and highly skilled citizens are not only more competitive in the global economy, but can also quickly respond to challenges and seize opportunities. With the creation of the National Skills Development Council Secretariat and the recent approval of the National Skills Development Policy by Cabinet, the Government of Bangladesh is making significant progress towards developing a flexible, market-oriented training system.”

More than nineteen Ministries operate technical training institutes including the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Ministry of Education (Directorate of Technical Education), the Ministry of Agriculture, offering courses at different levels ranging from high school to Polytechnic. Many institutions also offer a variety of short courses ranging from just a few weeks up to six months.

One of the most popular is the basic trade course of 360 hours over six months with some 18,000 + students registered. Whereas government TVET institutions number about 200, private sector institutions number more than 3000. Of the latter most offer Higher School Certificate in Business Management or are secondary vocational schools.

The Bureau for Manpower Employment (BMET) operates 38 technical training centres which have a focus on training workers for overseas.

The government of Bangladesh recognised the skills gap and established plans to construct new TVET institutions and inaugurated three development projects intended to reform the TVET system and improve the quality of TVET graduates to make them more work ready.

Bangladesh is making progress on TVET reform, for example, a new TVET Act, the National Technical and Vocational Qualification Framework, the National Skills Development Policy, establishment of industry skills councils, new competency-based training courses and so on. Though significant reforms are underway, it’s too early to tell which reforms will yield the best dividends. However, early indications are showing positive response from industry and excitement from trainees. There are still challenges, for example, TVET financing, shortage of TVET instructors and strengthening links to industry that need ongoing attention. Review of project sponsored TVET pilots and sharing of best practice with other countries on skills for development can assist in finding the right mix of interventions.

UK institutions who work in the technical and vocational education and training sector can come forward to partner with TVET institutions in Bangladesh to share best practice, expert knowledge, and operating competency-based training courses. 

The government of Bangladesh has approved the National Skills Development Policy which is a major milestone in the country’s history. As the framework is now in place, the government now needs to develop a market-oriented training system. Key strategies, training institutions and people are to be developed, under the TVET development plan.

For further queries, please get in touch with, 

M Jahir Uddin

Project Manager- Services for International Education Marketing (SIEM)

Email: Jahir.uddin@bd.britishcouncil.org and siemsouthasia@britishcouncil.org