Competency-based qualification framework institutionalised further into national skills system
The ILO is supporting Government of Bangladesh efforts to further institutionalise the National Technical and Vocational Qualification Framework (NTVQF) in its Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.
TVET institutes are gearing up to introduce more competency-based training courses under the NTVQF following a decision by the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) to provide additional funding for this purpose.
Yet to do so, the institutes need to carry out a comprehensive planning and budgeting process to access the funds from DTE necessary to launch courses.
Introducing the NTVQF system requires a number of steps. The TVET institutes must gain certification from the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) to become a Registered Training Organization (RTO). Teachers and trainers for each subject area must become certified to carry out assessments. In addition, laboratories or classrooms need to be equipped so that assessments can take place.
ILO’s Canadian-funded BSEP project and Dhaka Technical Teachers Training College (TTTC) is supporting TVET institute principals and their accountants to develop the budgets and plans needed to introduce and run competency based training though training workshops held in October 2017.
Kishore Singh, Chief Technical Advisor of the BSEP project said, “A number of competency based courses have been established with the support of the BSEP project. However the decision by the Directorate of Technical Education to fund courses is a major step to making NTVQF sustainable and embedding it in the Bangladesh technical education system.”
Taking part in the training workshop, Md. Saidur Rahman, principal of Sylhet Technical School and College (STSC) explained that most of the industry based in Sylhet recruits worker from STSC and that the institution has been running competency based qualification training courses under the BSEP project.
“We are very happy to learn that the DTE will allocate budget for running NTVQF courses. There is strong industry demand for graduates and if we can continue to run the courses by ourselves it will be really helpful for the sector.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammad Shahjahan, Principal of Dhaka Polytechnic Institute highlighted that they had four course areas for which DTE would allocate budget. “After this workshop we are now confident enough to do the planning and budgeting and hope to start the regular NTVQF courses from next session.”
The National Technical and Vocational Qualifications Framework is a comprehensive framework for all qualifications in the skills development system. It aims to support the skills development pathways that provide access to qualifications and assist people to easily transition from training into work.
ILO supported the Ministry of Education to develop the NTVQF. ILO has also provided technical and financial support to the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) to set up the new framework as well as for the development of competency-based and industry-driven curricula.