TDS Desk:

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has directed the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) Governing Body to formulate policies within a short time to bring skills development and training programmes run by different ministries under a unified framework.

He asked the authority to form a small committee to prepare the necessary policies, stressing that developing the skills of the country’s young people was an urgent priority.

The prime minister said numerous training programmes were being conducted under different ministries, but a lack of proper coordination often limited their effectiveness.

As a result, young people were not receiving the expected recognition for their training certificates in national and international labour markets, he said.

The prime minister stressed the need to introduce a unified syllabus for training and certification, saying an internationally standardised system would help improve young people’s skills while increasing the acceptance and recognition of their qualifications at home and abroad.

During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed on the NSDA’s administrative structure, manpower and functions.

The meeting discussed policies and strategy documents on national skills development, creating skilled human resources in line with national and international labour market demand and analysing sector-wise skills requirements.

Participants also discussed short-, medium- and long-term action plans, improving the quality of training and certification and ensuring mutual recognition of certificates.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Public Administration Ministry Adviser Md Ismail Zabiullah, Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon and Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister and Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury attended the meeting.

Prime Minister’s Adviser and Prime Minister’s Office Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, State Minister for Public Administration Md Abdul Bari, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and Principal Coordinator for SDG Affairs S M Abdul Awal were also present.

The NSDA Executive Chairman, secretaries of different ministries and other senior officials also attended the meeting.