Technical education reform must focus on modernisation and market-orientated training to transform Bangladesh’s large population into a skilled workforce, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a meeting with officials of the Directorate of Technical Education in Dhaka, ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon emphasised that strengthening technical and vocational education is essential for economic growth and employment generation.
The meeting was held at the Directorate of Technical Education conference room in the capital, with Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary Muhammad Rafiqul Islam presiding.
The education minister said Bangladesh’s population of nearly 180 million represents a major potential resource. If properly trained and equipped with practical skills, the workforce could become a key driver of the country’s economic and social development.
ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon highlighted the need to strengthen public-private partnerships in the education sector and build stronger links between academic institutions and industry. He also called for modernising curricula and training programmes to align technical education with labour market demands.
According to the minister, several performance indicators and key performance benchmarks of the technical education sector have already been reviewed. He said reform measures would be implemented soon to improve the quality and relevance of training.
The minister stressed that technical, vocational and polytechnic institutions should place greater emphasis on practical training and skill development rather than relying heavily on theoretical instruction.
He instructed officials to accelerate reform initiatives and work with greater coordination to upgrade technical education infrastructure and teaching standards.
ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon also said Bangladesh could expand overseas employment opportunities by producing a larger pool of skilled workers. Strengthening coordination with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment would help increase access to international labour markets, he added.
He noted that demographic changes in many developed countries have created labour shortages, presenting a potential opportunity for Bangladesh to supply skilled manpower abroad.
“If we create skilled manpower, Bangladesh will be established as a strong, human resource-rich country in the world,” the minister said.
The education minister also said technical education will play a major role in achieving the employment generation goals announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging officials and institutions to work collectively to implement reforms.
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