The government has taken up a project to expand technical education in Bangladesh, aiming to develop skilled human resources in the pursuit of middle-income country status.
The government has decided to set up 389 technical schools and colleges at the upazila level and one polytechnic institute each in 23 districts to increase enrolment in technical or vocational education to 20% by 2020.
It also decided to establish eight technical colleges for women in eight divisional headquarters, as well as one Engineering College each in four divisions -- Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Rangpur.
In addition, the government has planned to develop land survey education and enhance the capability of the existing 64 technical schools and colleges across the country, according to an official document.
Regarding the set up of the 389 technical schools and colleges at the upazila level, the Vocational and Madrasa Education (VME) Division of the Education Ministry has sent a Development Project Proforma (DPP) to the Planning Commission of the Planning Ministry.
For the construction of the polytechnic institutes in 23 districts, the ministry sent the DPP to the Planning Commission on December 4, 2017.
Currently, the student enrolment rate in technical education is 14%, having been as low as 1% in the recent past.
According to an official document of the Education Ministry, the government has already increased the number of seats in polytechnic institutes to 57,780 from 25,000.
It also established engineering colleges in Faridpur, Sylhet and Mymensingh, where 540 students will get the scope to get technical education each year.
The government also took a project to gradually establish at least one technical school and one college in all upazilas of the country.
There will further be a technical research and training institute, “Bangladesh National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training and Research” (BNITTR), to ensure modern research and training facilities.
Speaking to UNB, a senior official of the Education Ministry said the government was sincere in its efforts to develop technical education in the country.
Furthermore, under the Skills and Training Enhancement Project (STEP), 64 organizations - 47 public and 17 private - are providing shortened training programs (360 hours in six months) in 32 trades.
"Under this project, we have targeted to give training to another 90,000 students by 2019," the ministry official said.
Thursday, April 25, 2024
