Vocational courses will start from class VI: PM

She said, the government has also taken decision to establish a technical school in each upazila to expand the vocational education in the country.

The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the 20th National Conference and 38th Council of the Institution of Diploma Engineers of Bangladesh (IDEB) at IDEB building here today.

Urging support of all to build a self-reliant country, Sheikh Hasina said, many people thought that country's economy would collapse after the anarchy unleashed by BNP and Jamaat since January 2013.

"But we have faced the situation and now taking forward the country to the right direction," she said.

The Prime Minister said, "Many quarters don't like our advancement. They like to keep the nation dependable. But, we want to build a prosperous and peaceful nation where there would be no anarchy and concentration."

Sheikh Hasina said, her government has taken initiative to fulfill the basic needs of the people. "So, the country is progressing fast," she said adding, "it is possible to develop the country if a government work sincerely with right planning."

President of central executive committee of IDEB AK MA Hamid presided over the inaugural ceremony and secretary general Shamsur Rahman read out the secretary report 'Amader Kotha'.

The Prime Minister said, Bangabandhu while he was the minister for industries and commerce in 1954, had planned for constructing two polytechnic institutes. At his initiative, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute was established at Tejgaon with admission of the country's first batch of diploma engineers in 1955.

She said, the Awami League and Bangabandhu had a very close relation with the diploma engineers. The relation is still continuing, she said extending her thanks to IDEB leaders for giving her honourary membership of the institute.

About the theme of the council "Skill-based education for life, livelihood and prosperity", Sheikh Hasina said, the theme was perfect and time-befitting as we have to give focus on education for improving skill of a person than giving only general education.

IEDB president handed over six research papers conducted by the IDEB study and research cell. On the occasion, the Prime Minister handed over 'IDEB Sanmanana Padak' to five diploma engineers for their outstanding contribution to the society.

The Prime Minister thanked the IDEB for giving some recommendations to the government by its study and research cell to save power and generate renewable energy, improvement of railway system, resolve housing problem, combat grafts and control population saying the government would consider those recommendations with importance.

Sheikh Hasina said, Father of the Nation laid importance on creating 'golden son' to build the Golden Bengal. "We have to build up skilled manpower with high moral value," she said adding, this task is not possible only by government initiative. Every professional, social and cultural organization out of their responsibility have to come forward along with the government to create such manpower.

"There is no alternative to improving skill to face the present day global challenges," she said, adding, "Our people would be our best assets if we can develop them as skilled manpower."

Pointing out the steps taken by the government for development of skilled manpower, the Prime Minister said, the Awami League government for the first time has introduced SSC vocational course in about 1800 non-government schools and four-year diploma engineering course in the polytechnic colleges to create mid-level skilled engineers.

She said, second shifts were introduced in 51 polytechnic institutes apart from taking decision to construct 25 polytechnic institutes including three for women. "The government has undertaken plan to build a technical school in every upazila to expand vocational education," she said.

Sheikh Hasina said, "Steps were taken to create skilled manpower and give training to the workers going abroad with job through 37 technical training centres. Thirty TTCs are established and necessary manpower were appointed which are now waiting for inauguration."

The Prime Minister said, "The Textile College in Dhaka has been upgraded to university and six textile institutes were modernized. The government is encouraging polytechnic education at private sector while science and technology university was established in every old district head quarters."

The Prime Minister said the government has arranged employment opportunity for around one crore at public and private sector over the last five years. Twenty-five lakh have gone abroad with job and manpower export to Malaysia and Middle-East countries at a low cost has began. Besides, the government is trying to explore more market for Bangladeshi workers abroad.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken initiative to create entrepreneurs from diploma engineers by giving soft loan through Bangladesh Bank. Under the programme, she said, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) is providing entrepreneurship training to five hundred diploma engineers.

Praising the initiative of IDEB for establishment of an electro medical lab in the IEDB building, the Prime Minister assured them of providing support from the government to establish an electrical, electronics and IT lab and a civil engineering lab in the IDEB building. She also assured them that she would try her best to allocate necessary land for establishing an energy park and entrepreneurs training institute.

The Prime Minister assured the IDEB leaders to look into the matter of their demand to resolve salary disparity, saying the inter-ministerial recommendation about the issue would be sent to the pay-commission.