Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Artificial Intelligence, it is no longer possible to remain competitive globally with a certificate-based education system alone.

Therefore, there is no alternative to building a skill-based, technology-driven, and employment-oriented education system. He emphasized aligning education with real-life demands and employment opportunities.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while inaugurating the Teacher Training Program on Skill-Based Education in the National University Curriculum as the chief guest at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Sunday (June 7).

He said that more than a decade and a half of authoritarian rule not only undermined the democratic rights of the people but also pushed the country`s education system into deep crisis. Now, in a democratic Bangladesh, it is time to rebuild and move forward. To establish a knowledge-based state and society, there is no alternative to developing skilled human resources in education, research, science, and technology.

Tarique Rahman noted that the National University has the potential to play the most significant role in expanding higher education in the country. Currently, more than four million students are enrolled in over 2,000 affiliated colleges. He stressed the importance of transforming the National University into a center of modern, practical, and time-oriented education.

He stated that a modern curriculum cannot be complete without subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Forensic Science, Programming, Digital Entrepreneurship Development, Digital Communication, Leadership, Presentation Skills, and Financial Literacy. He also emphasized equipping students with skills in emerging fields such as Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology, Quantum Computing, Nanotechnology, 3D Printing, and Fifth-Generation Wireless Technology.

The Prime Minister said that the government has already taken initiatives to make curricula from primary to higher education more practical, employment-oriented, and technology-driven. He added that curriculum reform is a continuous process in this era of research, innovation, and technological excellence.

Highlighting the issue of graduate unemployment, he said that many students remain jobless even after completing higher education due to a lack of practical and technological skills. To address this challenge, the government has undertaken initiatives to expand apprenticeships, internships, and industry-academia collaboration. Initially, these programs will be implemented through partnerships between universities in divisional cities and local industries and business establishments.

He said the objective is to ensure that students acquire practical work skills alongside their academic studies, enabling them to enter the job market without prolonged waiting periods after graduation.

To foster young entrepreneurship, the Prime Minister also announced plans to provide Seed Funding and Innovation Grants on a competitive basis for the implementation of innovative business ideas in colleges and universities. He expressed hope that this initiative would create new entrepreneurs and generate additional employment opportunities.

At the same time, he underscored the importance of moral education alongside technology-based learning. He said that morality is indispensable for becoming a truly humane individual. Educational institutions must also give equal importance to students’ mental health, social inclusion, environmental protection, and the development of human values.

Addressing teachers, the Prime Minister said that their knowledge, skills, integrity, and commitment are crucial to improving the quality of education. They should not only impart knowledge but also serve as role models and agents of social change.

Speaking to the youth, he urged them to enrich themselves with religious, social, and moral values alongside technological knowledge. He also noted that proficiency in a third language, in addition to Bangla and English, would significantly enhance employment opportunities both at home and abroad.

He said the government aims to build a knowledge- and merit-based state where education, research, creativity, and competence receive the highest priority. National development is not the responsibility of any single individual or institution; rather, it is a collective journey. In this endeavor, the government expects the cooperation of universities, teachers, students, parents, civil society, and the industrial sector.

Concluding his speech, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said: “Let us work together to build an employment-oriented education system that not only awards certificates but also develops skilled human resources, transforms population into productive assets, and lays the foundation for national prosperity.”

The event was chaired by National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.S.M. Amanullah. Among others, Education Minister A.N.M. Ehsanul Haque Milon and Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr. Mahdi Amin also addressed the program.