Around 73 percent of technical graduates earn less than Tk 10,000 per month as most job opportunities offer poor salaries due to a lack of skills and a mismatch between supply and demand, according to a study by the Center for Political Dialogue (CPD).

Among graduates, 36 percent get between Tk 15,000 and Tk 25,000, while only 1 percent exceed Tk 30,000.

The CPD unveiled its findings yesterday at a government technical and vocational education event at Farmgate in the capital.

The survey was conducted among 600 current and former technical students in three districts – Panchagarh, Satkhira and Sunamganj – in collaboration with the Bangladesh Citizen Platform for SDGs and the Eco-Social Development Organization (ESDO).

Presenting the speech, Towfiqul Islam Khan, senior research fellow at CPD, said that initially certified students have to work without wages because their acquired skills do not adequately meet market demand.

Recruiters often express concern about the quality of graduates’ work, he said.

He also said that course programs often do not meet the needs of local industries, making it difficult for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates to find suitable employment opportunities.

According to the CPD, only 13 percent of participants believe that the quality of education meets their expectations, while 59 percent consider it satisfactory.

Around 87 percent of current and former students believe that technical education does not meet their expectations, while 67 percent believe that infrastructure is of average standard, according to the study.

Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished member of CPD, called for the creation of a partnership-based expert committee to modernize technical education.

“I hope the caretaker government will establish a committee to develop an action plan to create a modern and efficient technical and vocational education system,” he said.

He suggested that the government should take three months to assess and four months to implement this transformation by ensuring the necessary funding and guidelines in the 2025-2026 budget.

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, another distinguished CPD scholar, questioned the effectiveness of new investments in technical education unless existing institutional problems are addressed.

“The employment landscape will change significantly over the next 15 years. We need to prepare the curriculum, trainers and infrastructure accordingly,” he said, adding that fundamental initiatives in technical education should start at the primary level.

“Our resources are limited, but the demand is great. It is essential to allocate resources strategically to have the greatest impact,” he said.

He also stressed the need for good governance, accountability and transparency.

Md Maksudur Rahman, Director (PIU) of the Directorate of Technical Education, admitted that only 18 percent of teaching posts in the technical education sector are filled.

“We are working to fill these vacancies through CPS and other means and hope to resolve this issue soon,” he said.

A Matin Chowdhury, former president of UCEP Bangladesh and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, emphasized that training should lead to employment. “Training is incomplete without guarantee of placement,” he added.

Md Ruhul Amin, secretary of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, said migration costs are increasing due to middlemen.

He said a policy was underway to subject these intermediaries to legal regulation, with the launch of a platform in December to provide transparent information on employment opportunities abroad.

The event was also attended by Md Rakib Ullah, Chairman of Bangladesh Technical Education Council, and Rubina Hossain, President of Bangladesh Women Entrepreneurs Federation, among others.