ADB to provide mkt-relevant skills training to 68,200 Bangladeshis
FE Report | Monday, 16 June 2008
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched a project aiming to help the government reduce poverty and promote economic growth by providing market-relevant skills training to 68,200 Bangladeshis, a senior official said Sunday.
He said the project also aimed at helping unemployed and underemployed Bangladesh adults attain better wage and employment prospects by improving the country's technical skills training system.
Requesting to be unnamed, the official said ADB has approved a U.S $50 million loan for the Ministry of Education of Bangladesh.
"We have already started working with the Bangladesh government's Ministry of Education to train 68,200 people by next five years," he said.
Side by side, ADB will help the Ministry of Education to make its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs market-oriented for the poorer section of the people under its project.
"The project supports the government's plan to reduce poverty and promote economic growth by providing market-relevant skills training to more Bangladeshis, including the poor and the disadvantaged," said project leader Leah Gutierrez.
Under the project, leaders of the ready-made garments and textiles, light engineering, and construction industries-- three main employers in the country-- will help create skills training programs relevant to their industries.
Currently, the TVET system and the needs of the employment sectors are mismatched, as the practical component of the curriculum is not effectively taught, the ADB official said.
He added a majority of the teachers lack training and practical skills and have no industrial experience as the TVET institutions does not have ample training materials, adequate classrooms and workshops facilities.
"Through the project assistance, young people who have not completed the eighth grade will be given access to training programs, and training workshops will be held in selected areas."
The current formal system excludes people who have not completed the eighth grade, the official said.
He said the project also aimed at helping unemployed and underemployed Bangladesh adults attain better wage and employment prospects by improving the country's technical skills training system.
Requesting to be unnamed, the official said ADB has approved a U.S $50 million loan for the Ministry of Education of Bangladesh.
"We have already started working with the Bangladesh government's Ministry of Education to train 68,200 people by next five years," he said.
Side by side, ADB will help the Ministry of Education to make its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs market-oriented for the poorer section of the people under its project.
"The project supports the government's plan to reduce poverty and promote economic growth by providing market-relevant skills training to more Bangladeshis, including the poor and the disadvantaged," said project leader Leah Gutierrez.
Under the project, leaders of the ready-made garments and textiles, light engineering, and construction industries-- three main employers in the country-- will help create skills training programs relevant to their industries.
Currently, the TVET system and the needs of the employment sectors are mismatched, as the practical component of the curriculum is not effectively taught, the ADB official said.
He added a majority of the teachers lack training and practical skills and have no industrial experience as the TVET institutions does not have ample training materials, adequate classrooms and workshops facilities.
"Through the project assistance, young people who have not completed the eighth grade will be given access to training programs, and training workshops will be held in selected areas."
The current formal system excludes people who have not completed the eighth grade, the official said.