A research report by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) has found that 28.24 percent of students who passed out from National University(NU) could not secure any employment opportunity even three years after graduation.
According to the research paper entitled 'Educated Unemployment in Bangladesh' presented by BIDS research fellow Dr. Badrun Nessa Ahmed, the unemployment rate among male graduates from NU is 19.96 percent, while the rate among female graduates is 34.31 percent.
The research paper was presented in a seminar organized in the conference room of BIDS in the capital on Sunday (March 24). Planning Minister Abdus Salam was present as the chief guest in the opening session of the program and Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali was the chief guest in the concluding session.
Advisors to the Prime Minister Moshiur Rahman, Dr. Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and former Planning Minister MA Mannan along with Dr. Kamal Abdul Nasser Chowdhury, representatives of private sector and research institutes and policy makers participated in it.
BIDS researchers presented a total of eight research papers highlighting the challenges and initiatives of the government to achieve the targets set in the manifesto of the Awami League before the 12th parliamentary elections.
Dr. Badrun Nessa Ahmed while presenting her research paper said that the ruling Awami League has prioritized 11 issues with the promise of building a ‘Smart Bangladesh,’ the most important of which is ensuring vocational education and youth employment.
She also said that the ruling government has announced plans to build a 'Smart Bangladesh' by combining the four pillars of 'Smart Citizen', 'Smart Government', 'Smart Economy' and 'Smart Society'.
She highlighted the country's major achievements since 2006 and noted that the literacy rate had doubled from 45 percent to 76.80 percent.
Dr. Badrun Nessa Ahmed said, the participation of girls in primary education is almost double compared to 2006, 98.25 percent. Enrollment in technical education has increased 22 times, the number of technical training centers has increased 9 times, the number of primary schools has doubled and the number of teachers in primary schools has doubled, he said.
The unemployment rate has halved. In 2006, the unemployment rate was 6.77 percent. Currently it is 3.41 percent. She said, at the same time, total employment also increased from 4 crore 30 thousand to 7 crore 730 thousand.
Dr. Badrun Nessa outlined the government's commitment to the education sector, such as increased budget allocation, recruitment of teachers based on merit, skill and experience, salary hike and improvement of teachers' conditions. She emphasized on the target of reducing youth out of education, training and employment from 17.8 percent to below 7 percent in the next 5 years.
She cited the challenge of educated unemployment as a major obstacle to achieving these goals.
Despite graduating from the University, the employment of young people is low, said Dr. Badrun Nessa. Noting that higher education does not guarantee a job, she said many youths who are looking for jobs do not get jobs due to lack of skills.
Presenting a follow-up to previous research, Dr. Badrun Nessa Ahmed said, the unemployment rate of graduates of National University is 28.24 percent. While the male rate is 19.96 percent, the female rate is 34.31 percent.
The employment rate is only 42.29 percent. 16.2 percent of graduates are currently self-employed and 13.22 percent are working part-time while studying.
According to the report, 29.49 percent of National University graduates employed in wage employment are working in the education sector.