Bangladesh : Skills Development Project

Sovereign Project | 39408-013

The Project has four outputs: (i) enhanced relevance of and access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs, (ii) improved capacity for good quality TVET delivery, (iii) delivery of relevant skills training, and (iv) project management.

To enhance the relevance of TVET, the Project will support the (i) establishment of partnerships with industry; (ii) development of competency and training standards; (iii) evelopment of curricula, teacher guides, learning materials and assessment tools; and (iv) capacity development in external competency assessment. With a view to improving the capacity to deliver good quality training programs, the Project will assist in (i) providing in-service training to government and nongovernment TVET teachers; (ii) revitalizing two public TVET teacher training institutions; (iii) strengthening the capacity for short training programs in selected public and private training institutions; and (iv) strengthening the

Flickr photos from the 39408-013: Skills Development Project in Bangladesh album.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Alam, Nazmul
    South Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Bangladesh
  • Modality
  • Sector
    • Education

Related Projects

Project Name Skills Development Project
Project Number 39408-013
Country / Economy Bangladesh
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Loan
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan 2425-BAN: Skills Development Project
Asian Development Fund US$ 50.00 million
Grant 0140-BAN: Skills Development Project
Government of Switzerland US$ 3.60 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Education / Technical and vocational education and training

Gender Gender equity theme
Description

The Project has four outputs: (i) enhanced relevance of and access to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs, (ii) improved capacity for good quality TVET delivery, (iii) delivery of relevant skills training, and (iv) project management.

To enhance the relevance of TVET, the Project will support the (i) establishment of partnerships with industry; (ii) development of competency and training standards; (iii) evelopment of curricula, teacher guides, learning materials and assessment tools; and (iv) capacity development in external competency assessment. With a view to improving the capacity to deliver good quality training programs, the Project will assist in (i) providing in-service training to government and nongovernment TVET teachers; (ii) revitalizing two public TVET teacher training institutions; (iii) strengthening the capacity for short training programs in selected public and private training institutions; and (iv) strengthening the

capacity of the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) for planning, research, and social marketing.

To increase the delivery of relevant skills training, the Project will support (i) the delivery of skills training (market-responsive skills training) needed in the labor market, and (ii) the delivery of skills training in poor communities.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

The TVET system has a large role to play in economic growth and social development as a provider of (i) trained human resources to the labor market and (ii) skills to those looking for employment. Bangladesh's national poverty reduction strategy (NPRS) recognizes the potential contribution of TVET to poverty reduction while supporting economic growth by providing employable skills, particularly to those who dropped out of school early and are already of employable age, and to the large pool of unemployed and underemployed adults.

The current formal TVET system lacks linkage with and, therefore, relevance to the labor market. The capacity of the system to meet the needs of the labor market is small. Employers are looking for more workers who can meet their semiskilled and skilled requirements. The outputs of the TVET system and the needs of the employment sectors are mismatched in at least three areas: (i) trades or occupations where programs are offered, (ii) competencies acquired do not meet industry or selfemployment requirements, and (iii) practical experience opportunities for students. The practical component of the curriculum is not effectively taught. The majority of TVET teachers lack pedagogical training and practical skills, and have no industrial experience. In addition, TVET institutions have poorly equipped workshops; and lack teaching and training materials, and adequate classrooms and workshops.

The formal TVET system provides limited opportunities to the primary target beneficiaries of the NPRS. Successful completion of class (or grade) 8 is required for entry into formal TVET programs in the secondary school certificate (vocational) and thus excludes the majority of the poor. Its main clientele are young adolescents who complete class 8, can afford to stay more years in school, and have strong white-collar job aspirations. The NPRS calls for a reform of the TVET system to make it more market-responsive; address training needs of the underprivileged who do not complete class 8; collaborate with the private sector and nongovernment organizations (NGOs); and make its training programs more flexible in terms of duration, curriculum and students' academic qualifications, among others.

Impact

Increased wage and self-employment of skills training graduates

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Strengthened TVET capacity to provide market-responsive, short-term relevant skills training

Progress Toward Outcome Project completed majority of its activities. Overall results after restructuring are satisfactory.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

1. Enhanced Relevance and Access of TVET Programs

1.1 Industry-led framework of partnership established

1.2 Competency and training standards developed

1.3 CBT curricula, teacher guides, learning materials and assessment tools developed

1.4 Capacity for external competency assessment developed

2. Improved Capacity for Good Quality TVET Delivery

2.1 In-service training provided to TVET teachers

2.2 Teacher training facilities upgraded

2.3 Training providers strengthened

2.4 DTE research, development, and social marketing capacity strengthened

3. Relevant Skills Training Delivered

3.1 Market-responsive skills training delivered

3.2 Skills training delivered in poor communities

4. Project Management

4.1 Project is well managed

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

Done

Done

Done

Achieved

40 identified

75 standards developed for 25 occupations. Out of which 40 standards have been approved by BTEB and being recognized as national standard. The remaining standards will be approved in due course.

An international consultant was engaged and his report formed the basis for twinning arrangements between BTEB and international entities. Process has been set in motion through a visit of a GoB-ADB team to Malaysian Qualification Agency and Department of Skills Development. SEIP will carry the process forward.

49 Assessors in ICT certified, of the 170 that were trained

72 CBT curricula developed and 42 out of 72 approved by BTEB

12 trainings implemented

local and international training conducted

Cell established

Floor constructed

Plan completed

Plans approved in 2012

5,382 teachers sensitized

Out of 40 master trainers, 25 were given skill training of level 1, which is a pre-requisite of Certification by BTEB. Lack of assessors in related trade delayed the process of certification. BTEB said now they are in a position to certify some of the master trainers after assessment

completed

9 modalities implemented

All teachers' (1125) of 64 TSCs is given CBT Pedagogy training, Skills training & training of Digital Content Development, English teachers' were given training on English teaching technic in partnership with EiA Project of UK AID. TSCs workshops upgraded with technical teaching learning-material and small civil works. TSCs provided with generators to ensure continuity of education.

SDP has been successful introducing NSC 2 and NSC 3 exams. BTEB has declared 64 TSCs, 37 TTCs & 40 TVI as centres for NSC 2 and NSC 3. Syllabus has been developed for the exams. BTEB will conduct the exams in July 2015 where both Public and private TVET institutes will be eligible to participate

Completed

One study completed

Done

14,087 trained in different modalities

3,681 poor girls trained in garments

Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment C
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples B
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects Minimum or no impact on environment.
Involuntary Resettlement The Project will not require any land acquisition. All civil works will be on current premises. No involuntary resettlement is envisaged for the proposed construction of a new building, additional offices, classrooms, and toilets.
Indigenous Peoples

Potentially limited impact.

The Project is market-responsive in design. The training admission eligibility standards will be specified in coordination with industry associations according to the occupations' skill standards. Training programs will be open to everyone who would qualify and will be held in venues that do not restrict admission to any group, including by religion and by ethnicity. For members of poor/disadvantaged groups that meet the admission criteria and are accepted into the skills training programs, the Project will provide daily training allowances, as appropriate. The Project is not targeting any specific group by religion or ethnicity.

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design Consultation with a variety of stakeholders was undertaken using focus group discussions, workshops, and interviews. Focus group discussions included TVET students, parents, TVET teachers and trainers, and employers in the six divisions of Bangladesh. Employers, industry associations, and development partners were also consulted.
During Project Implementation

Consultation and participation of representatives of industries and major NGOs is undertaken in the Project. Members of the Industry Skills Councils will mostly be from industries and employers to identify the needed skills training. TVET institutions that will receive funds for upgrading their program facilities will have advisers from the industries and employers. In working with poor communities, the Project will work with NGOs to identify their training

needs. Information dissemination activities, among others, will be undertaken and will include the use of popular media to reach out to youth and project a positive image of productive TVET. A social marketing plan was prepared and implemented.

Business Opportunities
Consulting Services 97 person-months of international consultants and 282 person-months of national consultants. Most of the services will be engaged through a firm to be selected using the quality- and cost-based selection method, and a full technical proposal will be used for the recruitment. To facilitate timely project implementation some of the international and local consultants will be hired on an individual basis.
Procurement Procurement of goods, works and services will be in accordance with ADB's Procurement Guidelines (2007, as amended from time to time).
Responsible ADB Officer Alam, Nazmul
Responsible ADB Department South Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Bangladesh Resident Mission (BRM)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Education
Timetable
Concept Clearance 16 Mar 2011
Fact Finding 29 Jul 2007 to 16 Mar 2011
MRM 16 Mar 2011
Approval 06 Jun 2008
Last Review Mission -
PDS Creation Date 02 Nov 2005
Last PDS Update 18 Mar 2018

Grant 0140-BAN

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
17 Dec 2008 18 Jan 2009 18 Jan 2009 30 Nov 2013 31 Dec 2014 08 Sep 2017
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 3.60 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 0.00 17 Jun 2022 0.00 3.48 97%
Counterpart 0.00 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 3.60 17 Jun 2022 0.00 3.48 97%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory - Satisfactory

Loan 2425-BAN

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
06 Jun 2008 18 Jun 2008 20 Nov 2008 30 Nov 2013 30 Jun 2015 24 Jul 2017
Financing Plan Loan Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 60.70 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 50.00 17 Jun 2022 13.05 0.00 100%
Counterpart 10.70 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 17 Jun 2022 13.05 0.00 100%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory Satisfactory - Satisfactory

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
Skills Development Project: Project Completion Report Project/Program Completion Reports Aug 2018
Skills Development Project Procurement Plans Jun 2013
Skills Development Project Loan Change in Scope, Amount, and Implementation Arrangements Nov 2008
Skills Development Project Project/Program Administration Manual Jun 2008
Loan Agreement for Skills Development Project between People's Republic of Bangladesh and Asian Development Bank dated 18 June 2008 Loan Agreement (Special Operations) Jun 2008
Skills Development Project Reports and Recommendations of the President May 2008
Skills Development Project Design and Monitoring Frameworks Feb 2008

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
Skills Development Project (Draft) Indigenous Peoples Planning Frameworks/Indigenous Peoples Development Frameworks Feb 2008

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

Title Document Type Document Date
Bangladesh: Skills Development Project Validations of Project Completion Reports Oct 2019

Related Publications

Title Document Type Document Date
Improving the Labor Market through Skills Development in Bangladesh Papers and Briefs Dec 2009

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

  • 14 Aug 2015 | Photo Essay

    Bangladesh: A Witness to Development

    Capturing the progress of the poor in Bangladesh through the images of documentary photographer Mohammad Rakibul Hasan.

Tenders

No tenders for this project were found.

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

Title Document Type Document Date
Skills Development Project Procurement Plans Jun 2013