The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) in collaboration with the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Bangladesh conducted the In-Country Program for Bangladesh on Competency-Based Curriculum Development last April 2 to 6, 2023 at the DTE Conference Hall, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The program was participated by a total of 50 principals, heads of training divisions of schools, curriculum writers, teachers of technical and vocational education and training institutions, instructors of employment- promoting organizations, and trade associations in Bangladesh.

The program aimed for the participants to comprehend conceptions of Competency- Based Education and Training within the TVET system, understand the DACUM approach to curriculum development, and process innovative digital tools for teaching and other instructional methods for the effective implementation of developed curriculums and assessment systems.

Jointly supervising the program were CPSC Director General Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and DTE Director General (Additional Secretary), Dr. Md. Omar Faruque. The five-day training was facilitated by program coordinator and resource

Photo during the opening ceremony person, Dr. Rajesh P. Khambayat, a professor at the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR), Bhopal, India and former CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant. The nominations for the program participants and local coordination were facilitated by the DTE’s Planning and Development Division led by its director, Engr. Md. Aktaruzzaman. The lectures were delivered by the engaged technical resource person, Dr. Ligaya Dumaoang, TVET and Skills Specialist under the International Labor Organization (ILO), Bangladesh and former CPSC faculty specialist.

Photo during the opening ceremony

Key officials from CPSC and DTE graced the opening ceremony and welcomed the participants. Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe wished the participants good luck and expressed his appreciation for DTE for managing the event successfully. Dr. Md. Omar Faruque on a positive note, likewise signified DTE’s gratitude to CPSC for continuously providing quality training programs to Bangladesh TVET administrators. Other attendees during the opening ceremony include Mr. Md. Kamal Hossain, Senior Secretary, Technical and Madras Education, Ministry of Education; and Mr. Md. Ali Akbar Khan, Chairman, Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB).

During the first day, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe delivered a special lecture on integrating IR 4.0 competencies and 21st-century skills in management of TVET institutes. Some of the key lectures that were delivered by the engaged resource persons include a discussion on the competency-based training systems for TVET, introduction of DACUM approach, competency-based assessment, and incorporation of ICT for competency-based teaching and learning approaches.

A panel discussion entitled, “Competency-Based TVET Education to Boost Youth Employability” was also conducted to supplement the lectures and activities within the five-day program. The panelists consisted of Dr. Rajesh Khambayat, CPSC Program Coordinator; Dr. Md. Abu Raihan, Professor, Islamic University of Technology; Mr. Bobida Saha, CEO & Managing Director, Certified Trainer and Assessor for Competency-Based Training and Assessment; Md. Anwar Hossain Manik, CEO, Texograph, Printing and Packaging; and Engr. Md. Aktaruzzaman, Director of Planning and Development, DTE Bangladesh. Discussions focused mainly on CBT in TVET education, factors in promoting CBE in TVET, as well as strategies in sustaining CBT in TVET and ways to sustain it. Experts from the academe, government, and industry also shared success stories of CBT in TVET in their respective institutions.

Photos during the panel discussion

Alongside this, a national seminar entitled “National Seminar on Preparing Youth for Skills of Tomorrow” was also organized as part of the training program. It was conducted on April 4, 2023, at the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute and was attended by TVET administrators, policymakers, academic professionals, and experts from various international and regional organizations, including representatives from the private sector in Bangladesh. The sessions aimed to provide insights and trends on promoting skills development among the youth in meeting the demands of employability in the future. The themes that were discussed include promoting skills development for the youth of today, reorientation of TVET for industry 4:0 through good practices and initiatives, as well as how industry and organizations are involved with the emerging models of skills development within TVET frameworks.

Photos during National Seminar on Preparing Youth for Skills of Tomorrow

During the five-day program, CPSC’s Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe also conducted courtesy visits to various linkage institutions of CPSC such as the DTE, Bangladesh, where he met with Dr. Md. Omar Faruque, DTE Director General (Additional Secretary); and the Development Effectiveness Wing, Economic Relations Divisions (ERD), Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh, where he was accommodated by the Additional Secretary (Wing Chief) Mr. Farid Aziz and five other officials from the ministry

Photo of Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe with DTE Director General, Dr. Md. Omar Faruque during the courtesy visit to DTE, Bangladesh

Courtesy visit at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance – Economic Relations Division with Additional Secretary (Wing Chief) – Development Effectiveness Wing Mr. Farid Aziz