Youth adept in quality technical education way forward in post-Covid-19 era: speakers

Brac Skills Development Programme (SDP) organised a webinar today to share ideas on implementation of innovative delivery methods for skills training and gather valuable perspectives of the key persons in the skills and employment sector.

Brac Executive Director Asif Saleh moderated the event- In pandemic: Employment opportunities through skills training--participated by Munir Hasan, head of Youth Programme at the daily Prothom Alo, Fahim Mashroor, chief executive officer (CEO) of Bdjobs, Adnan Imtiaz Halim, CEO of Sheba XYZ, and Tasmiah T Rahman, current in charge of Brac SDP.

Speakers at the event tried to identify relevant skills demand, address employment opportunities and provide career counselling to youth in the post-Covid-19 era.

Quality technical vocational education and training and skills development increase the prospect for the youth to gain access to decent employment. 

However, hands-on technical training has become difficult as the world keeps fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced people to maintain social distances and stay at home halting all activities outside. 

In such a challenging time, World Youth Skills Day was observed on 15 July, like every year, to raise awareness about the importance of youth skills development. 

The event also dwelled upon creating awareness on the role of agile skills service providers and employability based on the post-COVID-19 skills demand and emerging employability sectors. 

Moderating the discussion, Brac ED Asif Saleh stressed on thinking out of the box to match the needs of the upcoming challenges.  

"During post-Covid-19 times, we need to rethink education, skills and jobs. While there are shortages of jobs, there will be new kinds of opportunities opening up also. How you self-teach and arm yourself with skills will make the difference in terms of getting jobs," said Saleh.  

"Digital jobs, IT jobs, healthcare jobs and identifying opportunities to become entrepreneurs may be key to your success. " Asif Saleh suggested the youth.   

"To boost efficiency and financial competency of the nation, it is paramount to spread quality technical vocational education in the country," said Munir Hasan, head of Youth Programme at the daily Prothom Alo.

Sheba XYZ  CEO Adnan Imtiaz Halim stressed on ensuring affordable access to vocational education during the ongoing crisis besides developing further skills to prepare the young population to survive the post-Covid-19 scenario. 

"Given the present situation, we need to prioritise our village-based economy. Those skilled workforce that have been forced to leave Dhaka and stay back in their village home should be given importance and we must devise a policy to ensure their employability," said Bdjobs CEO Fahim Mashroor.

BRAC SDP current in charge Tasmiah T Rahman stressed on growing resilience and urged the youth to stay connected during these challenging times.