Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister Dr A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon delivered Bangladesh’s national statement on Friday (16 October) at the opening session of the 2026 World Technical and Vocational Education Development Conference in Tianjin, China. He set out the country’s national vision for technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The conference, held at the Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center, has the theme “TVET Co-Embracing Change, Co-Forging Standards, Co-Creating Future”.
Education ministers from more than 40 countries and government delegations from more than 100 countries are taking part in the high-level global meeting. UNESCO representatives, industry leaders, university heads and technical and vocational education experts from around the world are also attending.
The opening ceremony was attended by Chinese Education Minister Huai Jinpeng, Vice Premier of China’s State Council Ding Xuexiang, Tianjin Mayor Zhang Gong, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and senior UNESCO leadership.
Speaking for Bangladesh as a keynote speaker at the opening session, the minister said: “Bangladesh’s main asset is its people, and human capital is the main foundation of national progress.” He described TVET as an essential bridge that links formal education with employment, academic knowledge with practical application, and young people’s potential with productive economic opportunity.
He highlighted the rapid changes in a global labour market driven by artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, advanced manufacturing and green technology. “Academic education alone is not enough to meet the demands of the economies of the future; combining the education system with practical, technical and digital skills is essential,” the minister said.
The minister stressed that Bangladesh’s TVET reform programme is not limited to setting up new institutions. “We are building a complete national ecosystem in which curricula match the real needs of industry; teachers keep themselves regularly up to date with fast-changing technology; students gain hands-on, industry-linked experience; and the national qualifications framework creates direct opportunities for jobs and livelihoods,” he said.
“One of Bangladesh’s main goals is to tie the education system more closely to productivity, innovation and inclusive national development,” he added.
Referring to Prime Minister Tareque Rahman’s visit to China in June 2026, the education minister said: “Both countries reaffirmed their firm commitment to strengthening cooperation in education and human resource development.”
He said Bangladesh would draw on China’s successful experience and technical capacity to modernise its TVET sector, strengthen links with industry, build teachers’ capacity and expand industry-linked practical education.
In line with the conference’s global theme, the minister made three calls to the international community: to make national education systems more adaptable and dynamic so they keep pace with emerging technology and a changing workplace; to be able to adapt global standards for technical and vocational education and training to each country’s economy, labour market realities and national development priorities; and to build the future through partnership among governments, educational institutions, industry, employers, international organisations and young people.
On the sidelines of the conference, the minister held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Vice Minister of Education Ren Youqun. They discussed proposals for cooperation including upgrading existing Bangladeshi technical institutions, launching joint technical education programmes, expanding Chinese government scholarships for Bangladeshi students and plans to set up a Bangladesh-China joint university of technical education and technology. Both sides agreed to take quick next steps to carry out these priority initiatives.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report