Developing youths with new generation skills and their institutional recognition is essential for the country to tap the potentials of demographic dividend, speakers at a discussion on Sunday said.
They said that these are also vital to achieving the development goals through employment generation and attracting more foreign direct investment.
The speakers made the observation at a discussion programme, organised by the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) at the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium marking the observance of world youth skills day.
Education Minister Dipu Moni attended the programme as the chief guest, with Senior Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Md. Tofazzel Hossain Miah in the chair. Secretary to the Ministry of Youth & Sports Mesbah Uddin, NSDA Executive Chairman Dulal Krishna Saha, and Coordinator of Industry Skills Council (ISC) Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan spoke on the occasion among others.
The United Nations (UN), in 2014, declared July 15 as the World Youth Skills Day to be celebrated globally. The NSDA undertook different programmes to celebrate the day of this year with the theme of 'Transforming Youth Skills for the Future'.
In her speech, Dipu Moni said time-befitting technical education and skills training for the youths are essential to utilise their potentials for the country's development.
"Skill development is a must for attracting investment and job creation in the country," she said.
The country will be able to create a strong base of skilled manpower similar to that of its success in establishing the Padma Bridge, she expressed the hope.
"The country has undertaken a wide range of schemes, including a hundred economic zones (EZ), for which it would require more working people skilled in different trades," she said.
She highlighted the need for transforming the country's education and change of mindset towards vocational and technical education for achieving desired goals with skills development in the country. Dulal Krishna Saha said the NSDA has been implementing various programmes for the sake of achieving the country's skills development goals.
"Among different schemes, the NSDA has developed a National Skills Portal aiming to facilitate different activities related to skills accreditation, training, and assessment centres," he added.
