Make technical courses must at secondary schools

A parliamentary body yesterday recommended making technical courses mandatory at all secondary schools.

“We have recommended making technical courses mandatory for all students of sixth to tenth grade at all general stream secondary schools,” committee member Fazle Hossain Badsha told The Daily Star after a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

He said they made the recommendation with a target of developing skilled and efficient human resources for the country.

Badsha added that the committee also instructed authorities concerned to increase their monitoring on educational institutions, about completion of syllabus in due time.

At the meeting, the committee also held detailed discussion on International Mother Language Institute Bill-2019.

Standing committee chairman Afsarul Ameen presided over the meeting, that was also attended by its members -- state minister for education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, lawmakers AKM Shajahan Kamal, Abdus Sobhan Miah, and Golam Kibria Tipu.

Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said introduction of mandatory technical courses at all general-stream secondary schools was an education ministry plan which is under implementation.

“After discussion on our plan, the committee supported it,” he added.

Education ministry officials said the government has plans to expand technical and vocational education at all schools and madrasas.

To this end, the education ministry is set to introduce Secondary School Certificate (vocational) at 640 schools and madrasas from next year.

It is also planning to introduce a compulsory technical course for students of sixth grade at all 30,000 schools and madrasas from 2021, top officials of Technical and Madrasa Education Division (TMED) said.

They added that such courses will be offered to students up to eighth grade gradually in following years.