Rangpur Technical Training Centre (RTTC) has turned 14,719 unemployed youths into skilled human workforce on 22 courses under eight trades since its inception in 2008.
“The institution is producing skilled manpower improving human asset index (HAI) side by side with meeting demand of local industries, creating job opportunities abroad and increasing foreign remittance,” said RTTC’s Principal Engineer Lutfar Rahman.
Of the trained, 9,947 youths, including 2,153 females, have been employed at different local and foreign industries, factories, offices and enterprises and they are earning well.
“Among the employed people, 6,453 trained male and female youths are working abroad in seventeen countries and earning two to four times more salaries than unskilled workforce,” Rahman said.
He said Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment is running RTTC to turn unemployed population into skilled workforce to increase productivity and accelerate development.
A total of 16,767 youths were admitted at RTTC since 2008 and 14,719 of them completed trainings on various courses under six trades of computer, refrigeration and air conditioning, electrical, electronics, welding and fabrication, and automotive.
“More 1,810 youths are now undergoing training on 22 courses at RTTC,” Rahman said.
On completion of training courses at RTTC, many local employing industries, factories and organisations are directly appointing the trained workforce and overseas employment recruiting agencies appointing them in foreign countries.
Recently, officials of ‘Chorka Textiles Mills Ltd’ of the Pran-RFL Group came to RTTC, interviewed and employed 19 female and 11 male youths, who were trained on ‘Industrial Sewing Machine Operation and Maintenance’ course.
On the same day, officials of the Standard Group of Dhaka came to RTTC and appointed 30 females trained on the same course for their garments factory.
“Similarly, officials of overseas employment recruiting agencies frequently visit RTTC and recruit our trained male and female skilled workforce as per their requirements for different countries,” said Principal Rahman.
After completing training courses at RTTC, Selim Bhuiyan and Narayan Chandra are now working as gardeners in Malaysia and earning over Tk 30,000 per month in terms of Bangladeshi currency.
“I am doing well since my employment two years ago and earning more than unskilled workforce in Malaysia,” said a happy Narayan hailing from Taraganj upazila of Rangpur while talking over cell phone recently to Principal Rahman.
After attaining training at RTCC, Abdur Rahman and Hashu Sheikh are now working as office attendant and electrician in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and earning over Tk 30,000 and 40,000 per month respectively, Rahman said.
Similarly, Sathi Akhter, Rani Begum and Roksana Akhter were recruited by overseas employment recruiting agencies and they are working as housemaids in the KSA and earning Tk 30,000 per month after getting training at RTTC on ‘Housekeeping’ trade.
“In addition to producing skilled human resources, we have already conducted pre-departure training courses on legal and other aspects of foreign countries for 5,717 males and females recruited by different agencies for 17 countries,” Rahman added.
Besides, RTTC is conducting training for youths on more trades with assistance of the Skills and Training Enhancement Project, BGMEA-SEIP (Skills for Employment Investment Programme) and five non-governmental development organisations, said a BSS report.
Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Narayan Chandra Barma said, “RTTC is laudably contributing to turning unemployed youths into skilled workforce to increase productivity and foreign remittance.”