81% technical and vocational graduates earn below Tk10,000: CPD
The researchers noted that technical education is playing a crucial role in helping the youth of Sunamganj secure employment, adding that 78% of graduates secured employment within six months of completing their education, though 22% took longer to find jobs
In Bangladesh, despite finding jobs quickly after graduating from different government-run technical and vocational institutions, a majority of them receive a negligible salary, according to a survey by the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
The study, conducted in Sunamganj during March and April this year, revealed that 81.48% of those with technical and vocational education earn below Tk10,000, while 14.81% make between Tk15,000 and Tk25,000. Only 3.7% earn between Tk30,000 and Tk50,000, and no respondent reported a salary above Tk60,000.
The survey findings were presented on Thursday at a stakeholder discussion meeting held in Sunamganj.
The study was conducted among participants of technical and vocational education and training programmes run by government institutions, as well as those organised by the Department of Youth Development in the district.
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Earlier, similar surveys were conducted in Satkhira and Panchagarh districts and it too revealed a scenario same as Sunamganj, according to the researchers.
The researchers noted that technical education is playing a crucial role in helping the youth of Sunamganj secure employment, adding that 78% of graduates secured employment within six months of completing their education, though 22% took longer to find jobs.
However, despite relatively better job placement rates compared to general education graduates, technical graduates face the issue of low wages.
At the meeting, CPD's Distinguished Fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya said, "Quality education will determine Bangladesh's future and bring global recognition. However, what we are seeing is, though technical education offers better job security compared to general education, the salaries are low."
"We must explore ways to increase employment opportunities. The country is currently experiencing a positive new phase, and we should seize this moment to improve the quality of technical education," he added.
According to the survey, there is a higher tendency of pursuing technical and vocational education among members of low-income families, with 39% of students coming from such backgrounds.
However, nearly half (49%) of the students said that they were unable to enrol in courses relevant to their interests. Most students in Sunamganj have pursued courses related to agriculture, electrical engineering, information technology, and the garment industry.
The survey also stated that nearly two-thirds of former students believe the skills gained through technical and vocational education align with the demands of the job market but 50% expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of their education. Insufficient funding, limited course availability, social stigma, and inadequate infrastructure were identified as key challenges.
CPD said only 4.6% of the national education budget is allocated to technical education, with only 57% of that being implemented, indicating low institutional and administrative prioritisation of technical and vocational education.
Meanwhile, the students said they often had to face social stigma and discrimination due to pursuing technical education.
Majidul Islam Sojib, a 9th-grade student at Sunamganj Government Technical School, told researchers, "People look down on us for choosing technical education and we notice this in our everyday experiences."
Another student, Md Baizid, who studied electrical engineering, said that despite having strong practical skills, he worked for a year without pay. "I observed that I had more refined ideas than those I worked under, yet my contributions went unrecognised because of my vocational background," he added.
CPD Fellow Mustafizur Rahman said although many training institutions exist, quality education is lacking. He called for improvements in transparency and accountability within the sector.
Stakeholders in the district's technical education sector stated that the absence of large industries and factories in the region limits employment opportunities, even for those with technical training in various fields.
Additionally, there is a lack of quality students pursuing technical education, and the shortage of skilled teachers further increases the problem, they added.
Sunamganj's Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Elias Mia emphasised the need for modernisation in employment sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, which are key areas in the region.
"While jobs exist in these sectors, processes must be modernised. For example, we need to regulate fishing in the Haor region to preserve resources," he said, suggesting a curriculum tailored to the region's economic characteristics.
CPD Senior Research Fellow Towfiqul Islam Khan, who led the research, pointed out that, while the government prioritises technical and vocational education at the policy level, implementation lags behind.
Along with low social acceptance, another significant challenge for vocational graduates is that there are insufficient job opportunities for the education that is being provided in these institutions, he added.
