Thrust on uniform qualification system for equal job opportunities

Participants at a workshop underscored the need for a uniform qualification system in the country to create equal job opportunities for all both from the formal and informal institutions.
Since the country's existing multifaceted education system cannot be checked from the ethical point of view, students coming out from both formal and informal institutions should be integrated in mainstream.
The workshop styled Development of Bangladesh QualifyingFramework (BQF) was held at a hotel in the capital.
The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) organised the workshop with support from the ILO's European Union-funded Skills 21 Project.
Md Alamgir, secretary of Technical and Madrasah Education Division, was present as the chief guest while Ashoke Kumar Biswas chaired the function.
ILO Officer-in-Charge Snehal V Soneji and Prof Dr Hj Hazman Shah Bin Abdullah, deputy chief executive officer (Quality assurance), Malaysian Qualifications Agency, also spoke on the occasion.
In his speech, Mr Alamgir said, "The government places high priority on technical education to develop a skilled workforce both nationally and internationally.
"This is the right time to develop a harmonised qualification system in education that will benefit both employers and jobseekers. TMED will act as a bridge to bring coherence and clarity in the qualification system," Alamgir added.
The BQF aims at improving the education and training sectors through better linking education and training to meet the present and emerging demands for jobs, he said.
A Bangladesh Qualification Framework is needed to facilitate lifelong learning by opening up access, attracting investment and recognising non-formal and informal learning, he further said.
The workshop brought together stakeholders to create awareness among them and to gain their support to develop a unified or harmonised Bangladesh Qualification Framework (BQF).
ILO Officer-in-Charge Snehal V Soneji said, "We are taking the first step towards building a unified and harmonised qualification framework for Bangladesh."
"The framework will allow learners to move within and across occupations, industry sectors and education sub-sectors. This will greatly meet the needs of students and industry alike," the ILO officer said.
Prof Dr Hj Hazman Shah Bin Abdullah shared the development process of National Qualification Frameworks in the context of ASEAN.
The BQF would also help potential economic migrants to gain qualifications that are better linked with the market demands, said Abdullah.
Mr Ashoke Kumar Biswas said with the coordination and collaboration of ILO, the BQF would play a vital role in meeting the needs of students and employers.
Besides, ILO Skills and Employability Specialist Gabriel H Bordado showcased the global success factors of national qualification framework and the role of regional qualification framework.

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