Vocational education to be compulsory from 2022: Dipu Moni

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Monday said vocational education will be made compulsory in all kinds of educational institutions of the country from 2022 to make skilled human resources for facing challenges of Fourth Industrial Revolution.

She said, “There was a plan to introduce the vocational education from class VI to VII in all schools from 2021 but it would not be possible due to Covid-19 pandemic but we are working to introduce at least two trades in all kinds of educational institutions from 2022.”

Dipu Moni made the remarks while addressing a webinar organised by Education Reporters Association-Bangladesh (ERAB) on “Technical and Madrasa Education: way out to achieve SDGs”.

ERAB President Mostak Ahmed presided over the seminar while Technical and Madrasa Education Division Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan, Technical Education Board Chairman Prof Dr Murad Hossain Mollah, Bangladesh Textiles University Vice-chancellor Prof Md Abul Kashem, Madrasa Education Board chairman Prof Kaisar Ahmed, ‘Sadhinata Sikha Parishad’ General Secretary Shahjahan Alam Shaju, Technical Education Welfare Association President Md Nazmul Islam and ERAB Secretary General Nejamul Haque also spoke, among others.

“The government took various initiatives. As a result, the enrolment rate at technical educational institutions will be increased further in the future,” Dipu Moni hoped.

“We are building one modern technical institute in each upazila where skilled teachers will be recruited and various modern trades will be introduced.”

She also said the government is working to bring the independent Ebtadyee madrasa under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) system soon.

“We are aware about the issue of Ebtadyee madrasah. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is taking the matter very seriously and she has agreed to provide the MPO to those madrasas,” said Dipu Moni.