Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture in its development journey. As the country aspires to become a prosperous, knowledge-based and industrially competitive nation, technical and vocational education must be placed at the centre of national policy. Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A N M Ehsanul Hoque Milon’s recent emphasis on the importance of technical education is both timely and well-founded. His observation that there is no alternative to technical education for building a developed Bangladesh deserves broad public support.
Around the world, countries that have achieved remarkable economic success have done so by investing heavily in technical skills and workforce development. Switzerland’s renowned dual vocational education system combines classroom instruction with practical workplace training, producing highly skilled professionals. Germany’s engineering excellence is built on a robust vocational education network closely linked with industry. Singapore continuously updates its technical and STEM education to meet changing market demands, while the United States remains a global leader in innovation through advanced research and technical expertise. These examples demonstrate that sustainable economic growth depends not only on academic excellence but also on the availability of skilled human resources.
We cannot afford to ignore this global reality. Although the country has made impressive progress in expanding access to general education, technical and vocational education still accounts for only about 14 percent of total student enrolment. This is significantly lower than in many developed and emerging economies. At the same time, millions of educated young people remain unemployed because their qualifications often do not match the needs of the labour market. This mismatch represents a serious challenge to economic growth and social stability.
Technical education offers a practical solution. It equips students with employable skills, increases productivity and prepares them for careers in manufacturing, information technology, construction, healthcare and other growing sectors. It also enhances opportunities for overseas employment. Bangladeshi migrant workers contribute substantially to the country’s foreign exchange earnings, yet many continue to work in low-paying jobs because they lack technical skills. Better vocational training would enable them to secure higher-paying employment and improve the country’s remittance inflows.
The government’s ongoing initiatives deserve recognition. Plans to establish additional engineering colleges and expand technical schools and colleges across the country reflect a positive commitment to human resource development. However, infrastructure alone will not guarantee success. The quality of education must receive equal attention. Institutions require competent teachers, modern laboratories, updated curricula and strong partnerships with industry to ensure that graduates possess skills relevant to both domestic and international markets.
Equally important is changing public perception. For decades, many parents and students have regarded general education as the only path to success, while vocational education has often been viewed as a second choice. This outdated mindset must change. Technical education should be recognised as an equally prestigious and rewarding career pathway capable of producing entrepreneurs, innovators and skilled professionals who can drive industrialisation and economic transformation.
Our ambition of becoming a developed nation will depend largely on the quality of its workforce. Investing in technical education is therefore not merely an educational priority; it is an economic necessity. With sustained policy support, quality improvement and greater social acceptance, technical and vocational education can become the engine that powers the country’s next phase of growth, competitiveness and shared prosperity.
