Technical and vocational education imperative to boost youth employment

Staff Reporter

Educo Bangladesh, in partnership with the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO), has renewed and signed new Memoranda of Understanding with four Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to expand employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth in Dhaka.

The agreements were signed with Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Center (BKTTC), Xinxian Hospitality and Training Institute (XHTI), Mirpur Agricultural Workshop and Training School (MAWTS), and Race Online Limited. The partnerships fall under the LIFT project, which targets 300 marginalised young people aged 16–22 with market-oriented technical training and essential soft skills aligned to current job demand.

Speaking at the ceremony, Tanvir Anwar Pony, Training and Development Manager at Xinxian Hospitality Training Institute, said the LIFT project stands out for combining practical skills with life skills. “Its updated and flexible curriculum prepares young people to succeed in the TVET sector and transition into employment,” he said.

Chief Guest Mohammad Ali Mortoza, Deputy Director (ICT, Statistics and Research) at the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), stressed the sector’s role in job creation.

“If we want to turn our population into a resource, we must prioritise quality TVET training, strengthen links with industry, and ensure outcomes that benefit all stakeholders,” he said, adding that initiatives like LIFT can help bridge skills gaps in the labour market.

Shahriar Mahmud, Head of TVET at ESDO, and Mohammad Tauhid Ferdous, Project Coordinator at Educo Bangladesh, said the project aims to improve livelihoods by building both technical competence and workplace readiness.

“By strengthening employability, LIFT supports sustainable jobs for youth while contributing to national economic growth,” they said.

Officials from partner institutions, government departments, trainees, and guardians attended the event. Speakers highlighted rising demand for skilled workers across sectors and underscored TVET-based training as a pathway to dignified, sustainable employment for young people in Dhaka.