81% of technical and vocational graduates earn less than Tk 10,000: CPD

Researchers noted that technical education plays a key role in helping Sunamganj youth gain employment, adding that 78% of graduates found employment within six months of completing their education, although 22% took longer to find a job

According to a survey conducted by the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), in Bangladesh, although they quickly find jobs after graduating from various government technical and vocational institutions, most of them receive negligible remuneration.

A survey conducted in Sunamganj in March and April this year showed that 81.48% of those with technical and vocational education earn less than Tk 10,000, while 14.81% earn between Tk 15,000 and Tk 25,000. Only 3.7% earn between Tk 30,000 and Tk 50,000, and none of the respondents reported a salary above Tk 60,000.

The results of the study were presented on Thursday during a discussion meeting with stakeholders held in Sunamganj.

The study was conducted among participants of technical and vocational education and training programs conducted by government institutions and organized by the Youth Development Department in the district.

Earlier, similar surveys were conducted in Satkhira and Panchagarh districts and according to researchers, they also revealed the same scenario as in the case of Sunamganj.

The researchers noted that technical education plays a key role in helping Sunamganj youth gain employment, adding that 78% of graduates found employment within six months of completing their education, although 22% took longer to find a job.

However, despite relatively better job placement rates compared to general education graduates, technical graduates struggle with the problem of low wages.

At the meeting, CPD eminent member Debapriya Bhattacharya said, “Quality education will determine the future of Bangladesh and will bring recognition across the world. However, from what we see, although a technical education provides greater job security compared to a general education, the wages are low.”

“We need to explore ways to increase employment opportunities. The country is currently experiencing a new positive phase and we should use this moment to improve the quality of technical education, he added.

The study shows that there is a greater tendency among members of low-income families to pursue technical and vocational education, with 39% of students coming from such backgrounds.

However, almost half (49%) of students said they were unable to enroll in classes that matched their interests. Most of the students in Sunamganj have completed courses related to agriculture, electrical engineering, information technology and garment industry.

The survey also found that almost two-thirds of former students believed that the skills acquired through technical and vocational education met labor market requirements, while 50% expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of their education. Insufficient funding, limited course availability, social stigma and inadequate infrastructure were identified as key challenges.

The CPD found that only 4.6% of the national education budget is allocated to technical education and only 57% of this is implemented, indicating a low institutional and administrative priority for technical and vocational education.

Meanwhile, students said they often face social stigma and discrimination in connection with technical education.

Majidul Islam Sojib, a ninth-grade student of Sunamganj Government Technical College, told researchers: “People look down on us for choosing technical education and we notice it in our daily experiences.”

Another student, Md Baizid, who was studying electrical engineering, said that despite his strong practical skills, he worked without pay for a year. “I noticed that I had more sophisticated ideas than those I was working on, but my contribution went unnoticed due to my professional experience,” he added.

CPD scholar Mustafizur Rahman said that although there are many training institutes, there is a lack of quality education. He called for improved transparency and accountability in the sector.

Stakeholders in the county’s technical education sector said the lack of large industries and factories in the region limits employment opportunities, even for people with technical education in various fields.

Moreover, there is a shortage of qualified students taking up technical studies, and a shortage of qualified teachers further aggravates the problem, they added.

Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Elias Mia stressed the need for modernization in employment sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and tourism, which are key areas in the region.

“As long as there are jobs in these sectors, processes need to be modernized. For example, we need to regulate fishing in the Haor region to protect resources,” he said, proposing a curriculum tailored to the economic characteristics of the region.

CPD senior research fellow Towfiqul Islam Khan, who led the study, noted that while the government is prioritizing technical and vocational education at the policy level, implementation is lagging.

In addition to low social acceptance, an important challenge for graduates of vocational schools is the insufficient number of jobs for education provided in these institutions, he added.