Cabinet body okays skills development project

The cabinet committee on public purchase approved Wednesday a project of over Tk 221 million to provide young people with skills development training and job placements.

The project titled "Skills for Employment Investment Programme" will be implemented by British Council and Dhaka Ahsania Mission.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the governments of Switzerland and Bangladesh will provide the fund.

"The project is now running in 44 districts. It will be expanded to other districts," executive project director Abdur Rouf Talukder told the FE.

Around 50,000 young people, out of around 70,000 enrolled under the ongoing project, so far received the training in different fields-ready made garment (RMG) and textiles, shipbuilding, leather, light engineering and information technology (IT).

Around 32,000 or 64 per cent of them got jobs.

The duration of the training ranges between three months and one year, depending on the educational qualification of the individuals. The enrolled ones receive a stipend of Tk 3,200 per month.  

In the present day world of tough job market, the young people need to prove that they have the professional skills to be competitive, but there is a gap between education and the workplace competency, officials said.

The skills for employment investment project aims to enhance the provision of private sector skills training in the sectors effectively that supports the poor, women and disadvantaged people into decent employment in the country.

The project is expected to help set market principles and attracting private sector investments to train poor and disadvantaged people.

The purchase committee also approved other projects, included development of groundwater and surface water irrigation in Habiganj, Moulvibazaar, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and Kishorganj districts at a cost of over Tk 129 million, simplification of curb portion of road from Indrapol to Chakroshala of Dhaka-Chittagong-Cox`s Bazar highway at a cost of over Tk 628 million and consultancy services for detailed design and supervision of cross border road network improvement project at a cost of over Tk 2.36 billion.

Meanwhile, the cabinet committee on economic affairs approved importing 50 per cent of fuel oil to be required in 2017.

Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury presided over both the meetings at the cabinet division.