Vocational And Technological Education Is More Important For Efficient Workforce: PM

She said, education is the only tool to alleviate poverty, whereas vocational and technological education is more important to build up efficient workforce for future.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the Technical and Vocation Education Week-2014 at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here today.

The Prime Minister said, her government has attached utmost importance to upgrade the academic curriculum to internationally standard level and a modern and science-based education.

"The way of development of ICT in Bangladesh is now a model for the world. Boys and girls of Bangladesh are brilliant and they can prove this if they are given scope," she said.

The Technical and Vocation Education Week-2014 is being observed in the country with the theme "Technical and Vocation Education for overcoming the Challenges of Twentieth Century".

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, education secretary Dr Mohammad Sadik and Director General of the Technical Education Board Shahjahan Mia also spoke on the occasion.

Sheikh Hasina said, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had wanted to build a nation enriched with scientific knowledge and information technology.

"Dhaka Polytechnic Institute was established at his initiative in 1954 when he was in charge of the ministry of industries of the Jukta Front Government," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, after long struggle, people of the country regained their opportunity to exercise their voting rights and elected Awami League to power in 1996. After a long time, she said, "the countrymen could understand that the government is for their welfare and development."

The Prime Minister said, her government always followed the ways of Bangabandhu as far as development issues are concerned. "Like every sector, the Awami League government reformed the whole education system giving impetus to the technical and vocational system," she said.

As part of that programme, she said, the government took decision for constructing a polytechnic institute in every district, and under that programme 18 institutes were constructed in the first stint of her government in 1996.

She mentioned other steps taken by her government for development of the technical and vocational education in the country saying next BNP-Jamaat alliance and subsequent caretaker government marred those projects pushing the country to a awful situation.

The Prime Minister said, her government has undertaken a target to increase the enrollment of students in the technical and vocational branch secondary education by 20 percent by 2020.

"Every educational institution would have the facilities for computer and ICT education. The government is taking all out preparation in this regard," she said.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)