The government has singed an agreement with the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to initiate a new project to modernise its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. Education secretary Md Sohorab Hossain, EU Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon and ILO Director-General Guy Ryder signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at Sonargaon Hotel on Monday. Under the agreement, a EUR 20 million project – ‘Skills 21 – Empowering citizens for inclusive and sustainable growth’ project – is set to be launched with financial support from the EU. The EU will contribute EUR19.5 million to the project. At a ceremony held in Dhaka yesterday, a Joint Declaration on the launch the ‘Skills 21 – Empowering citizens for inclusive and sustainable growth’ project was signed by representatives of the Government of Bangladesh, EU and ILO. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was present on the occasion. Nahid said this initiative will support the government’s commitments to the inclusive economic growth and full and productive employment for all. A skilled and productive workforce will make a major contribution to the goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2021, he said. EU Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon said Bangladesh is in need of a skilled labour force to ensure the sustainability of its economic growth. On completion of the EU-funded TVET reform project which helped Bangladesh define a National Skills Development policy, he said, the EU will continue its support with the new Skills 21 programme to further develop and complete the establishment of a comprehensive and coherent TVET system and its institutional setup, for long-term effectiveness. ILO Director General Guy Ryder said a modern and inclusive skill system will provide a solid base for the future development of Bangladesh. “The Skills 21 initiative will build on past achievements and ultimately provide greater access to quality vocational training for men and women alike.” The earlier EU-funded TVET Reform Project which ended in December 2015 successfully established the foundation for the new, demand-driven, competency-based system for skills development in Bangladesh including reforms in the formal TVET system – a reform initiative that has been widely acknowledged and rated as highly successful by the professional community in the region as well as at global level. Set to run from January 2017 to December 2020, Skills 21 will strengthen the National Skills Development System by continuing earlier reforms and by developing a National Qualifications Framework. It will work with the Government to improve the governance aspects within the skills development sector, and directly with TVET institutions to introduce the entire reform package of new quality assured programmes, trained instructors and management as well as services for career guidance and job placement. The project also aims to support partnerships between private sector and relevant training providers to develop and implement effective professional education and training programmes. The project will be implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry Of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs, National Skills Development Council Secretariat, Directorate of Technical Education, Bangladesh Technical Education Board and Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training.
