(Italic) Speakers at UCEP Bangladesh’s Roundtable Call for Modern, Practical Education Aligned with AI and Digital Skills

Our Correspondent : Speakers at a roundtable in Dhaka said that Bangladesh must urgently reform its education system to help young people gain the skills needed in today’s fast-changing world. The event was organized by UCEP Bangladesh to mark World Youth Skills Day 2025 and focused on the theme: “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills.”
Dr. Md. Abdul Karim, Executive Director of UCEP Bangladesh and former Cabinet Secretary, said, “Bangladesh has around 110 million working-age youth, but many of them cannot contribute effectively to the economy due to a lack of proper skills.” He emphasized the need for stronger support from the government to promote quality training and job opportunities.
Dr. Obaidur Rob, Chairperson of UCEP’s Board of Governors, said, “We should not celebrate Youth Skills Day just once a year. Every day should be a day for skill development.” He added that many Bangladeshi youths work abroad in low-skilled jobs, while workers from neighboring countries are better paid because they are more skilled.
The chief guest, Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, said young people must be mentally prepared and properly guided to use modern technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Many think AI is just about editing photos, but it is used in agriculture, health, education, and security,” he said. He also called for big changes in the education curriculum, including emotional and ethical learning.
He mentioned that with proper training in caregiving, language, and confidence building, many domestic workers—especially women—could become skilled professionals and earn better incomes abroad.
Joint Secretary of the Technical and Madrasah Education Division, Fatema Jahan, said that although around 5 million students are studying in madrasas, very few of them have access to vocational training. She expressed the government’s plan to introduce vocational trades in 1,000 more madrasas but stressed the need for mindset changes in society.
Other speakers, including educators, health experts, and media personalities, stressed the importance of including soft skills—like communication, leadership, and problem-solving—in education. They also highlighted the need to guide youth on the ethical use of technology.
UCEP also announced its plan to build a modern caregiving institute in partnership with BIHS General Hospital to meet the growing demand for caregivers in countries like Japan.
In summary, the speakers agreed that Bangladesh cannot become a smart and sustainable country without investing in modern, practical education that prepares its youth for the future job market.