The government has taken up a plan to set up 389 technical schools and colleges at the upazila level to increase enrolment in technical institutes by 20% by 2020. This decision is aimed at developing skilled human resources. At present, student enrolment is 14 percent in technical education.
Technical education is a development tool for any country. There is no alternative to technical education experts opined. Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni said, “The government does not want to create jobless educated. That’s why the government is highlighting technical education.”
The education system of this country needs to be adjusted according to the demands of the fourth industrial revolution, she added. The minister also said, there is nothing to worry about the fourth industrial revolution. With the declaration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Digital Bangladesh, we are one step ahead in addressing the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.
Educational expert Muhibul Siddik said, “In order to move this populous country forward, it is necessary to acquire technical skills with technical knowledge.” The developed nations having technically educated workforce are economically ahead. According to the Centre for Educational Research (CER) statistics, the rate of educated people enrolled in technical education in our country is almost zero compared to developed countries. At present, rate is 73 percent in Germany, 66 percent in Japan, 65 percent in Singapore, 60 percent in Australia, 55 percent in China, 50 percent in South Korea, 46 percent in Malaysia and 14 percent in Bangladesh.
Against the background Bangladesh government is planning to increase it to 20 percent in 2020 and 30 by 2030. Although enrolment in government polytechnic institutes is increasing day by day, we still have to go many more miles. AKM Rashid of Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB), mentioned that it is a matter of regret that talent, practical experience and skills are not taken into consideration in government recruitment.
As a result, the technical areas of the government remain deprived of the services of the eligible technical persons, he added. He also said that in order to increase interest in this work-oriented education, the age limit should be relaxed for the skilled candidates. In order to overcome such a situation, recruitment of experienced and skilled people to fill certain vacancies in the specialized jobs is a timely demand.
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. The government also took a project to gradually establish at least one technical school and one college in each Upazila of the country.