We are living in an age of technology and if Bangladesh’s workforce largely remains unskilled in technological matters in Bangladesh, we cannot hope to greatly benefit from mankind’s technological advancement.
That is why Bangladesh’s relevant policymakers must put a greater thrust to youth’s skill development to create a skilled workforce.
Moreover, as a third world country, Bangladesh is yet to create adequate job opportunities for its increasing number of youth who leave the homeland for foreign lands with an aim to work as migrant workers.
But the bulk of these workers who go to foreign countries are unskilled. Only a small number of them are semi-skilled, and even smaller is the number of the skilled workers.
That is why we time and again have urged the government to give focus on developing generations of skilled youth with a forward looking vision so that the youth population can develop themselves which is another name for national development.
For skill development in youth, it is necessary to create first skilling teachers, trainers and youth that can promise a transformative future for Bangladesh. The essential role teachers, trainers and other educators can play in providing skills for youth to transition to the labour market, and to actively engage in their communities and societies cannot be underestimated.
Since the quality of education is falling in Bangladesh, this is doubly important. Over the decades, the number of institutions of general education, technical and vocational institutions has increased and the increase has failed to meet the burgeoning population of the country.
According to the recent census, the total population of Bangladesh stands at 169.8 million, and 27.96 percent of them are young people, aged between 15 and 29 years. However, when it comes to women’s participation, a smaller number of women enroll in vocational and technical education.
For example, data from the World Bank (2018) reveals that only 27 per cent of secondary students join the vocational stream. This section of the population must be in the focus of the government’s attention for a balanced development of Bangladesh society.
