People, if provided with the right skills and knowledge, can become assets, said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday.
He said the government emphasises the use of technology in order to make young people competitive.
“The wider applications of technology will also help youths come up with new ideas,” said the minister while addressing a symposium at the British Council in the capital.
The British Council, in collaboration with the National Skills Development Council Secretariat, organised the symposium to explore ways for supporting the transition of youngsters into employment, helping them become entrepreneurs as well as make academic progress.
It was attended by academic experts and government representatives from Bangladesh and abroad who exchanged ideas on possible ways to ensure access to quality education for students.
The education minister said: “We want to prepare the next generation of Bangladeshis by giving them knowledge. We also want to reform the traditional education system and formulate a new and modern education policy.
“Our future generation can compete with students from all around the globe. Also, we are putting in efforts to ensure gender equality in education, meaning we want to ensure that both boys and girls get the same educational opportunities. Children should enrol in schools and we should work to minimise the numbers of dropouts as well.”
Nahid said education is a key priority of the government. “We also highly prioritise technical and vocational skills.”
Robert W Gibson, British high commissioner to Bangladesh, said having an educated workforce is now more important than ever to compete in today’s global business world.
“I am delighted that the British Council has arranged the symposium and has got influencers and key policymakers to discuss ways to ensure that today’s young people can access the best of the educational opportunities, which will help them become tomorrow’s workforce,” he added.
