National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) underscored the importance of strengthening national coordination for skill development, ensuring the quality of training, and creating a skilled workforce aligned with the demands of the international labour market.
NSDA Executive Chairman (Secretary) Nazneen Kawshar Chowdhury made these remarks at the 15th Executive Committee meeting of NSDA held at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday.
The meeting emphasised that all curriculum development from Levels 1 to 6 of the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF), along with training, assessment, and certification, must be conducted in accordance with NSDA laws and regulations.
It was noted that while NSDA is the appropriate authority for skills-related matters, the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) is the authority for technical education.
Consequently, BTEB was re-instructed to swiftly implement previous directives from the NSDA Governing Board and Executive Committee to amend the BTEB Act. This move aims to eliminate existing dualities and ambiguities between the NSDA and BTEB laws and ensure a clear division of responsibilities for more effective operations.
The meeting also discussed expanding employment opportunities in the international labour market by conducting country-specific training, signing Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), and ensuring international-standard certification.
To make the training system more contemporary, the meeting discussed completing assessments immediately after the conclusion of courses to ensure the rapid issuance of certificates.
The necessity of linguistic and behavioural training alongside professional skills for overseas employment was highlighted, with a call to expand language training to the district level.
Guidelines were provided to convert the country’s growing workforce into skilled human resources through large-scale training expansion, ensuring training aligns with industrial demand and strengthening industry-academia links.
The meeting underscored the need to strengthen NSDA’s role in financing skills development, selecting training institutions, and quality control. Policy approval was granted for introducing hybrid (online and in-person) training in the Information Technology sector and implementing modern, technology-driven methods for assessment tool management.
The meeting concluded with a call for all ministries, divisions, and agencies to work under the leadership of the NSDA to transform the nation’s vast population into skilled workforce and create sustainable employment.
Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar chaired the session. PM’s Spokesperson Mahdi Amin attended the meeting as the guest of honour. Secretaries from various ministries, heads of departments and agencies, and representatives from private organisations were also in attendance.
