After five decades of independence, the country is yet to put technical and vocational education in perspective and make it attractive enough. This is reflected in the latest Population and Housing Census 2022 findings. The census report showed that less than one per cent of the population in the field of education opts for technical or vocational education or training. At the national level, general education occupies the highest share, with 89.26 per cent, according to the latest census. Technical or vocational education ratio stood at 0.81 per cent in 2022, which was 0.71 per cent in 2011 and 0.41 per cent in 2001. Thus, a small number of the population of five years and above looking for education makes a choice for the technical or vocational line for their careers.
Over the decades, the country has devised a series of policies and plans to expand technical and vocational education and training (TVET), considering it critical to developing a skilled workforce. The National Education Policy 2010, National Skills Development Policy (NSDP) 2011 and Skills Development Strategies under the 7th Five Year Plan (7FYP) rightly underscored the importance of technical and vocational education and training. These policies and plans also outlined a series of measures in this connection. Moreover, the government has also developed a National Technical and Vocational Qualification Framework (NTVQF).
Technical education and vocational training institutes have also increased significantly over the past decade. Last year, the number of independent technical-vocational institutions stood at 2,547, of which 3,22 are under public management, according to Bangladesh Education Statistics 2022. Then, there are technical or vocational education attached to other general educational institutions. So, the total number of technical and vocational institutions reached 7,819 in 2022, of which 6,91 are public. Some 0.33 million students were enrolled in this education by the end of 2022.
The ultimate goal of vocational and technical education is to develop a competent workforce in diverse sectors and build up skilled human resources at a rapid pace, keeping in mind the national and international demands. These training and skills are also vital for opening up avenues of wide-ranging job opportunities abroad for a skilled workforce. It also helps develop the dignity of labour.
Currently, technical and vocational education in Bangladesh is provided for three months of basic training and four four-year diploma courses. The designated institutions offer four tiers of technical and vocational education. The tiers comprise secondary (SSC), higher secondary (HSC), diploma and short-term training courses. Polytechnic Institutes are the leading TVET institutions in the country. Other institutions are technical schools and colleges, textile institutes, textile vocational, agriculture training institutes, medical technology institutes, medical assistant training schools, etc.
Three years ago, a policy paper titled 'Development of Technical and Vocational Education System in Bangladesh: Lessons From The German Experience' identified several challenges the country's technical education and vocational training face. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh and SME Foundation jointly prepared the paper, which pointed out that the lack of apprenticeships is a big concern for the country's TVET sector.
Low demand for TVET coupled with deficiency in quality and a lack of infrastructure are two other major barriers to the expansion of this education and training. Due to a shortage of quality teachers and trainers, many institutions cannot offer optimal lessons and training to students. Some institutions also don't have adequate laboratories and advanced equipment.
Again, social attitude is also another problem. People in society are still obsessed with regular or general education and have reservations about sending their children to vocational or technical institutes. Many also undermine the students and graduates who pass from these specialised institutions. So, social awareness about the necessity of TVET is now critical.
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