From February to August this year, 225,336 people completed employment-oriented technical training under Bangladesh’s education ministry, aimed at building skilled workers for the production and service sectors and meeting labour-market demand. The training was delivered through the Accelerating and Strengthening Skills for Economic Transformation, or ASSET, project.

Under enterprise-based training, 203,634 participants completed courses, while 21,702 completed 360-hour institutional short courses. Women accounted for 130,470 trainees, or 57.90% of the total. The programme also included small ethnic communities and persons with disabilities as part of efforts to ensure social inclusion.

Project officials said Industry Skills Councils, industry associations and chambers of commerce were involved to align training with industrial demand. The National Skills Development Authority evaluates each batch and issues certificates under national standards. The World Bank approved an 18-month extension and restructuring of the project on July 29, extending its term until June 30, 2028. The extended period will include stronger digital tracking and data-based monitoring systems.