Bobby stresses job-ready skills to double economy by 2034

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj on Friday stressed the need to develop skilled, capable and internationally competitive young people to support Bangladesh’s goal of doubling its economy by 2034.

“Merely obtaining an institutional degree is not enough; students must acquire English communication skills, technological knowledge, and the ability to solve problems in real workplaces,” he said.

The state minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the 2nd ULAB-TESOL Bangladesh International ESP (English for Specific Purposes) Conference 2026 at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) in the capital.

The conference was jointly organised by TESOL Bangladesh and ULAB.

Addressing students, Bobby Hajjaj said university education should help them gain knowledge and build their careers, but a degree alone could not guarantee the desired success without the necessary skills.

He said students needed to be prepared to apply their academic knowledge in real-life situations and respond to challenges in the workplace.

Highlighting shortcomings in English language proficiency, the state minister said teaching and learning English remained a major challenge in Bangladesh’s education system.

Drawing on his visits to schools in different parts of the country and discussions with teachers and students, he said teachers also needed to improve their own English language skills to teach the subject effectively.

His remarks underscored the importance of strengthening practical learning and language proficiency to help students meet workplace demands and compete in international job markets.