The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has come forward with its US$150 million financial support to help upgrade Bangladesh's technical education, Economic Relations Division (ERD) officials said on Saturday.
Under the initiative, the government would train at least 10,000 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) teachers across the country to enhance their teaching quality on the technical education.
"The specialty of the programme is to train the TVET teachers, especially those outside the capital city. In most cases, teachers in the rural Bangladesh are deprived of high quality training," a senior ERD official told the FE. He stressed the need for modern and time-bound training programme for TVET teachers to build a technically qualified nation.
Under the TVET Teachers for Future (TTF) programme, the Department of Technical Education (DoTE) would provide training for teachers from various TVET and technical education institutions until 2030.
Besides, the DoTE would establish two new TVET Teacher Training Colleges (TTTCs) in Chattogram and Khulna, expand and modernise the existing TTTC in Dhaka and TVET Teacher Training Institute in Bogura, renovate and vertically extend selected facilities in seven existing polytechnics, and establish a 4IR training centre in Dhaka.
These interventions will increase the capacity of classrooms and workshops to 1,000 seats and accommodations to 1,000 beds (25 per cent exclusively for female) to conduct physical TVET teacher training beyond Dhaka. Construction management and equipment utilization will be strengthened with a strong focus on operation and maintenance.
"We have completed negotiations with the ADB recently. A loan agreement will be signed on Sunday with the ADFB," the ERD official said last week.
The concessional loan carries a 2.0 per cent interest rate with a 25-year maturity period.
According to the TVET Teachers for Future (TTF) programme, the ADB will support the Bangladesh's Integrated TVET Development Action Plan (ITDAP), as envisaged in the Bangladesh Vision 2041 and the 8th Five Year Plan, to improve equitable availability of qualified TVET teachers, especially outside Dhaka.
According to the ADB, the TTF programme would expand inclusive provision of modern TVET teacher training; strengthen pedagogical and technical skills in modern and emerging technologies; and improve the overall development, management, and reporting system for TVET teachers.
The initiative will benefit at least 10,000 fresh and existing TVET teachers during the programme period and establish a system for continuous professional development that will substantially improve the quality and relevance of TVET in Bangladesh, the Manila-based lender said.
The Bangladesh government has already prepared an Integrated TVET Development Action Plan (ITDAP) which needs a total of US$5.0 billion worth of funds. Under the programme, at least six development partners are likely to join it where Bangladesh government would provide lion's share of the funding.
In addition to ADB's $150 million commitment, the European Union (EU) is likely to provide $112.60 million; International Labour Organisation (ILO) $0.50 million; JICA $8.50 million; World Bank $300.00 million; and the Global Affairs Canada $15.50 million.
The Bangladesh government would provide some $4.43 billion worth of funds to complete the programme by 2030.
