Education system failing to produce skilled human resources

The country's education system is failing to produce skilled human resources in line with the demands of the industrial sector, said speakers at an event yesterday.

Therefore, a coordinated effort between the education and industrial sectors is essential for developing a skilled workforce, they added.

They made this remark at a discussion titled "Smart Human Capital Development in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) on its premises in Dhaka.

Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, president of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh, said only 20 percent of graduates get jobs matching their qualifications, while around 2 million remain unemployed.

He underscored the importance of promoting technical education and changing the societal mindset towards vocational training.

Professor Shams Rahman, vice-chancellor of East West University, said the current education system is not adequately aligned with industry demands and thus coordinated efforts between the education and industrial sectors are crucial to producing skilled human resources.

In a keynote presentation, M Niaz Asadullah, visiting professor of economics at the University of Reading, referred to a 2019 study conducted by the government's Aspire to Innovate programme and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Due to the advancement of information technology, around 5.38 million jobs might be lost in Bangladesh's readymade garments, food and agriculture, furniture, tourism, and hospitality sectors by 2030, he said.

He stressed the need to enhance workers' technological skills through rigorous training.

He also called for modernisation of the education system, wider use of advanced technologies in technical education, and ensuring budget allocations for implementing skills development programmes.

Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury, executive chairman of the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA), highlighted that there was a lack of coordination among government agencies involved in conducting training programmes, as well as limited awareness regarding the importance of skills development.

She mentioned that during the initial phase, the NSDA primarily focused on establishing legal, physical, and administrative structures and now is focusing on training for human resource development.

In addition, she informed that initiatives have been undertaken to teach the Japanese language with government and academic support to send 100,000 skilled workers to Japan.

Besides, she stressed the need for training programmes to upskill women.

Muhammad Masroor Ali, a professor in the computer science and engineering department at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, pointed out that a significant disparity remains in education quality between urban and rural areas.

It is one of the major obstacles to developing a skilled workforce in the country, he said, emphasising the need to ensure quality education at all levels.

DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said the Fourth Industrial Revolution is not just limited to technological transition; rather, it has led the world towards a profound transformation in production systems, business operations, and labour markets.

He remarked that artificial intelligence is reshaping the country's industrial and service sectors. Citing the World Economic Forum, he mentioned that nearly one-fourth of existing jobs will be transformed over the next five years.

He stressed that in the post-least developed country era, smart human resources will be a key instrument to remain competitive, and Bangladesh must prepare itself for technology-driven employment opportunities.

The DCCI president also stated that to tackle this evolving reality, Bangladesh must bring fundamental reforms to its education system, focus more on technical education, and strengthen industry-academia linkages.