Vocational Education Week begins June 20

17 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The government, for the first time, is going to observe Technical and Vocational Education Week 2010 beginning June 20 as part of its one of the key strategies to develop technical education. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the week at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. At a press conference yesterday, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said, "We have taken initiatives to develop technical and vocational education which has long been neglected." He said technical education has been neglected in terms of budgetary allocation and the standards of education. Highlighting the government's plan on technical education, he said a technical school would be set up in each upazila across the country and the curriculum will be prepared in line with the demand of time and foreign labour market. "We are taking suggestions from the investors and local and foreign employers to prepare the curriculum. We are also figuring out what types of labour forces the foreign countries need. "We want that the students of the country receive such education which they can apply in their professional fields," he said. Nahid said a technical subject would be introduced for class six, seven and eight in the future so that all students can have an idea about it. Over 17,000 foreigners are working at upper level jobs in the garments industry, he said, adding that the government wants to create scopes for the students of the country to do the same jobs. "We have upgraded the textile institutes into universities to this end," he said. Nahid said technical education is yet to reach a dignified level socially and that is why many people do not want to enrol their children in such courses. "This mindset needs to be changed", he said and stressed the need for a massive campaign to raise awareness. The events of the week include rallies, seminars, discussions and meeting with the people involved in this sector.