C T Online Desk: Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury has said mastering a third language alongside Bengali and English can boost career prospects and will put job seekers ahead in the workplace both in and out of the country.
He was speaking at a Career Hub inaugural ceremony organized by Brac’s Skill Development Program (SDP) as the chief guest on Saturday in Chittagong.
He said: “Europe will be short of approximately 10 million employment possibilities by 2030. If we fail to capture this global job market, we will fall short of our target. In such circumstances, we must prioritize skill development alongside education.”
The deputy minister said that in today’s competitive environment, extracurricular activities and volunteers, alongside studying, are quite important for improving skills. All of these components make it easier for a student to achieve their goals.
Meanwhile, the program began with a welcome speech by Brac Senior Director KAM Morshed.
At the session, Tasmiya Tabassum Rahman, Associate Director of Brac’s Skill Development initiative, provided an in-depth overview of the agency’s Career Hub initiative and its transforming influence on youth empowerment.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, the country’s unemployment rate is 4.37%. Of these, 46% have a university degree.
According to government data, more than two million young people enter the job market each year with little or no practical knowledge and skills.
According to a 2021 survey performed by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), 66% of National University graduates are jobless.
The majority of job seekers have never gotten any career advice or assistance. As a result, they are unable to improve their skills in accordance with the demands of the company.
Women and people with disabilities face additional challenges owing to less opportunities for acquiring expected skills, unfavorable societal attitudes, limited mobility, and social pressure.
Employers are looking for competent workers in response to this predicament. Keeping this in mind, Brac launched this program in 2020 by establishing Career Hub centers in Rangpur and Sylhet.
An online platform has also been established in order to reach out to the youth more effectively. This year, there are also plans to build Career Hub facilities in Cox’s Bazar and Khulna. The City Foundation is a partner in Brac’s journey in Chittagong.
Career hub services and related facilities will be launched at this event in Chittagong for youth, employers, government partner institutions, and other interested parties.
Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Aminur Rahman, Citibank NA Bangladesh Country Officer Md Moinul Huq and Chittagong University Vice Chancellor Dr Shireen Akhtar were special guests at the event.
