Anisul Islam Noor :
The government has a target that 20 percent of the total students will study in the technical and vocational education by 2020 in order to ensure national progress, Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) sources said.
At present, eight percent of the students are studying in this sector, which was one per cent in 2009. The technical students in South Korea, Singapore, China, Japan and other European countries constitute 50 percent of the total student population.
According to a survey, the UK, the USA, Japan, South Korea and Singapore produce about 17 to 58 percent of mid-level skilled manpower with an annual income ranging from USD 7,000 to USD 42,000, while Bangladesh has three percent of such manpower.
About 60 to 80 percent of posts of teachers have remained vacant in the state run Polytechnic institutions. No initiatives have been taken to recruit teachers for many years. As such, the educational activities are being hampered due to lack of adequate teachers, classrooms and inadequate accommodation facilities, sources added.
BTEB sources say that about 2,276 posts, including 485 of teachers, have remained vacant against 5,229 posts for teachers and employees in government technical institutions. Many such institutions cannot even admit students due to the acute crisis of teachers.
There are about 7,000 public and private technical and vocational institutions in the country. Of them, 291 are government and 6,573 are private. The seat capacity is about six lakh whereas about five-lakh students study in these institutions, according to BTEB sources.
Bangladesh Karigori Shikkhak Samity Federation President MA Sattar said, it is very difficult to make a large number of students interested in technical education for various problems. “We had not been able to achieve much in technical and vocational education in the last four decades,” he added.
“Many technical and vocational institutions are being run with one or two teachers. Even the teachers do not get sufficient salary like other educational institutions under the monthly pay order (MPO),” said Sattar, also Principal of Shyamoli Ideal Polytechnic Institute.
About the government’s target to enrol 20 percent of total students by 2020, he said, “It’s a time-consuming matter under the existing structure.”
He also said that the quality of technical education had to be increased by updating the curriculum to meet the demands of the market.
Humayun Kabir Khan, Principal of Shariatpur Polytechnic Institute, said that he had been facing a serious crisis of teachers over the last five years. Last month 22 part-time teachers were recruited under a project.
“I have five permanent teachers only for about 1,100 students. Last month, 22 part-time teachers were recruited under a project. Now I have 27 teachers against 38 posts,” he added.
He, however, said that part-time teachers are not a good solution because they always look for another job and do not take classes properly.
Humayun said, “I think it will be a difficult task. At present, we have three to four per cent educated people in this sector. We have a dearth of teachers. We can not even give proper salary to our teachers.” He also said that despite having a 20 per cent quota, five per cent girl students only opt for technical education due to lack of accommodation and other facilities.
Md Munir Hossain, Principal of Jhenaidah Polytechnic Institute, said, they have to hire teachers from outside as they do not have an adequate number of teachers. He also said, the Directorate of Technical Education, despite being informed of the situation, has not taken any steps in this regard.
“We have 11 permanent teachers and 17 part-time teachers against 36 vacant posts. We have about 1,700 students, but no hostel,” he added.
Dr Md. Abdul Hoque Talukder, Chairman (in-charge) and Secretary of the BTEB, admitted of the acute crisis of teachers in technical and vocational education.
“Technical institutes are not included in the MPO. If the teachers get salaries under MPO, there will be no problems. But at the same time, it is difficult to get teachers in remote areas. There are not many qualified teachers in those areas,” he added.
“It will be a good decision if the government introduces separate a salary structure for teachers. Even the government can recruit teachers through the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). Training is also necessary for teachers,” he said.
When asked how to attract students to technical education, Talukder said, the government has taken various steps, including creating public awareness, broadcasting programmes on radio and television. He also said that social recognition for Diploma Engineers is important and good students should come to this sector.
The government has a target that 20 percent of the total students will study in the technical and vocational education by 2020 in order to ensure national progress, Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) sources said.
At present, eight percent of the students are studying in this sector, which was one per cent in 2009. The technical students in South Korea, Singapore, China, Japan and other European countries constitute 50 percent of the total student population.
According to a survey, the UK, the USA, Japan, South Korea and Singapore produce about 17 to 58 percent of mid-level skilled manpower with an annual income ranging from USD 7,000 to USD 42,000, while Bangladesh has three percent of such manpower.
About 60 to 80 percent of posts of teachers have remained vacant in the state run Polytechnic institutions. No initiatives have been taken to recruit teachers for many years. As such, the educational activities are being hampered due to lack of adequate teachers, classrooms and inadequate accommodation facilities, sources added.
BTEB sources say that about 2,276 posts, including 485 of teachers, have remained vacant against 5,229 posts for teachers and employees in government technical institutions. Many such institutions cannot even admit students due to the acute crisis of teachers.
There are about 7,000 public and private technical and vocational institutions in the country. Of them, 291 are government and 6,573 are private. The seat capacity is about six lakh whereas about five-lakh students study in these institutions, according to BTEB sources.
Bangladesh Karigori Shikkhak Samity Federation President MA Sattar said, it is very difficult to make a large number of students interested in technical education for various problems. “We had not been able to achieve much in technical and vocational education in the last four decades,” he added.
“Many technical and vocational institutions are being run with one or two teachers. Even the teachers do not get sufficient salary like other educational institutions under the monthly pay order (MPO),” said Sattar, also Principal of Shyamoli Ideal Polytechnic Institute.
About the government’s target to enrol 20 percent of total students by 2020, he said, “It’s a time-consuming matter under the existing structure.”
He also said that the quality of technical education had to be increased by updating the curriculum to meet the demands of the market.
Humayun Kabir Khan, Principal of Shariatpur Polytechnic Institute, said that he had been facing a serious crisis of teachers over the last five years. Last month 22 part-time teachers were recruited under a project.
“I have five permanent teachers only for about 1,100 students. Last month, 22 part-time teachers were recruited under a project. Now I have 27 teachers against 38 posts,” he added.
He, however, said that part-time teachers are not a good solution because they always look for another job and do not take classes properly.
Humayun said, “I think it will be a difficult task. At present, we have three to four per cent educated people in this sector. We have a dearth of teachers. We can not even give proper salary to our teachers.” He also said that despite having a 20 per cent quota, five per cent girl students only opt for technical education due to lack of accommodation and other facilities.
Md Munir Hossain, Principal of Jhenaidah Polytechnic Institute, said, they have to hire teachers from outside as they do not have an adequate number of teachers. He also said, the Directorate of Technical Education, despite being informed of the situation, has not taken any steps in this regard.
“We have 11 permanent teachers and 17 part-time teachers against 36 vacant posts. We have about 1,700 students, but no hostel,” he added.
Dr Md. Abdul Hoque Talukder, Chairman (in-charge) and Secretary of the BTEB, admitted of the acute crisis of teachers in technical and vocational education.
“Technical institutes are not included in the MPO. If the teachers get salaries under MPO, there will be no problems. But at the same time, it is difficult to get teachers in remote areas. There are not many qualified teachers in those areas,” he added.
“It will be a good decision if the government introduces separate a salary structure for teachers. Even the government can recruit teachers through the Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA). Training is also necessary for teachers,” he said.
When asked how to attract students to technical education, Talukder said, the government has taken various steps, including creating public awareness, broadcasting programmes on radio and television. He also said that social recognition for Diploma Engineers is important and good students should come to this sector.
