Prime Minister emphasizes on technology-based education

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated a training program for teachers on career-oriented and technical education in the National University curriculum. The program was organized at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center today, Sunday (June 7). Under the theme ‘Take career-oriented education, work globally’, speakers highlighted the importance of career-oriented and technical education.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that the fascist rule that lasted for more than a decade and a half has destroyed the country’s education system. Now is the time for democratic Bangladesh to turn around by making the education system modern, practical and technology-based. The Prime Minister said that to survive in global competition, there is no alternative to creating skilled human resources in knowledge, science and technology. More than 4 million students are studying in more than 2,000 colleges under the National University.
Tarique Rahman said that former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia established the National University in 1992 to expand and ensure opportunities for higher education. He said that in this era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, subjects like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, programming, digital entrepreneurship development, leadership, presentation skills and financial literacy should be an essential part of the education curriculum. At the same time, students should also be prepared for emerging fields like genetic engineering, biotechnology, quantum computing, nanotechnology, 3D printing and 5G technology.
The Prime Minister said that the government has already started working to develop a skill-based, work-oriented and technology-based education system, not just certificate-based education. To make higher education more effective, he stressed on increasing coordination between universities and the industry sector, making internships and industry-education linkages mandatory.
He said that although a large number of students complete higher education every year, many remain unemployed due to lack of necessary practical and technical skills. To address this problem, the government has taken initiatives to increase cooperation between universities and local industrial and business institutions in divisional cities, so that students can acquire practical work skills along with their studies. The Prime Minister said that ‘seed funding’ or ‘innovation grants’ will be provided on a competitive basis for implementing innovative business ideas in colleges and universities. This will develop students as entrepreneurs and create new employment opportunities. He highlighted the importance of knowledge, skills, integrity and commitment of teachers, saying that teachers are not just teachers, they are the pioneers of social change and role models for students. At the same time, the Prime Minister called for giving importance to moral education, mental health, social inclusion and environmental conservation along with technology-based education.