The New Nation - Internet Edition

Economic REPORTER

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will help thousands of unemployed and underemployed Bangladesh adults to improve their technical skills by a training system in an attempt to attain better wage and employment prospects.

ADB has approved a 50 million US dollars loan for the Ministry of Education to make its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs market-oriented, short-term and relevant, said a ADB press release.

It said that the project plans to train about 68,200 people over the five years of implementation, especially for the poor who were not able to finish the eighth grade.

Under the project, leaders of the ready-made garments and textiles, light engineering, and construction industries--the three main employers in the country -- will help create skills training programs relevant to their industries.

Currently, the TVET system and the needs of the employment sectors are mismatched.

And the current formal system excludes people who have not completed the eighth grade.

"The project supports the government's plan to reduce poverty and promote economic growth by providing market-relevant skills training to more Bangladeshis, including the poor and the disadvantaged," says Project Leader Leah Gutierrez.