Business Desk :
Over 72 per cent of youths out of the 86 per cent who have smartphones have access to the internet.
However, only 28 per cent have recently searched for materials related to technical and vocational education and training (TVET), according to a survey by Brac.
The NGO carried out the survey on youth perceptions on skills development training and post-training employment, it said in a press release.
The survey said 65 per cent of the young participants identified Facebook as the most effective digital platform for raising public awareness.
The survey was made public at an event titled “Changing perspectives of youths regarding vocational education in Bangladesh”.
KAM Morshed, senior director, Brac, said stigma was associated with skills and vocational training in the society. “We must partner with communities at large and fight together against this,” he said.
Tasmiah Tabassum Rahman, current in-charge of Brac Skills Development Programme, said jobs related to technical and vocational education in Bangladesh were still considered blue collar jobs.
This is why it is very important to create awareness and tell the society about the importance of TVET and its prospects, she said.
Though there are government-run training centres in all districts, bringing a change in mindset should be the first task, said NGO Affairs Bureau Director General KM Tariqul Islam. Here the private and voluntary organisations have a role to play, he said.
“Without skills we won’t be able to sustain ourselves in the fourth industrial revolution,” said National Skills Development Authority Executive Chairman Dulal Krishna Saha.
Winnie Estrup Petersen, ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh, stressed on listening to the young voices and enter into a dialogue with them under an inclusive approach.
“Stakeholders form the public-private sector and partners need to think about how to change the mindsets of young people. This can be done through adequate campaigns and ultimately the youths need to be prepared with the right skills and right mindset for the changing world,” she said.
Chaired by Asif Saleh, executive director, Brac, the event was also attended by a number of high officials from government and non-governmental agencies.
