Bangladesh faces a challenge in achieving its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income, investment-driven economy if it excludes the education sector from its national development strategy, as highlighted by analysts. The country’s Education Minister revealed that a significant number of students are enrolled in Qawmi and Alia madrasas, raising concerns about their readiness for a future focused on industrial, technology, and service sectors. Analysts question whether these students are being adequately prepared to support Bangladesh’s transformation into a hub for manufacturing, technology, and services, as the government aims to diversify its economic base.
Experts emphasize the importance of having skilled professionals in various sectors to attract foreign investments, stressing the need for engineers, technicians, programmers, and other specialized workers. They also highlight the significance of soft skills like communication and adaptability in the workforce. The absence of a comprehensive national policy for market-oriented skills in madrasas is a key concern, according to Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Director in Bangladesh, Max Tunon.
The report underscores the necessity for Bangladesh to integrate its education system with market demands to address the challenges of graduate unemployment and youth joblessness. Despite efforts to enhance skill development and employment opportunities, the country continues to face issues of mismatched skills and a high volume of unemployed graduates. The mismatch between job seekers and available positions remains a significant issue, with a considerable number of new job-seekers entering the market annually.
