The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Speakers at a workshop on technical and vocational education here on Friday laid emphasis on taking need-based strategy for Bangladesh in meeting the global skills challenge.

They said the country need huge skilled manpower as it faced skill challenges in the global economy.

The British Council in association with the Ministry of Education, Textiles and Jute, Civil Aviation and Tourism organised the three-day workshop on 'skills of young people and employee engagement in technical and vocational education and training (TVET)' at Sheraton Hotel in the city.

Secretary of Textile and Jute Ministry Abdur Rashid Sarker attended the opening session as the chief guest while Secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Syed Mohammad Zobaer, Secretary of Labour and Employment Ministry Mahfuzul Haque and Director of British Council, Dhaka Charies Nuttall spoke as special guests.

Abdur Rashid Sarker said at present Bangladesh need 20,000 skilled manpower in textile and jute sectors.

Syed Mohammad Zobaer said the country could earn huge foreign exchange by skilled manpower from the tourism sector as it has great potentials.

Mahfuzul Haque said the workshop would provide a forum for government, employers and influential persons for developing plans to support development of a demand-driven vocational education and training sector.

Charies Nuttall said the programme would focus on the importance of employers engagement in technical and vocational education in meeting the global skill challenges through sharing some of the UK's training solutions and policy responses.

Chairman of the Bangladesh Technical Education Board Dr Nitai Chandra Sutradhar presented a keynote paper while Education and Society Manager of the British Council Raiqah Walie-Khan presided over the inaugural session.