BRIDGING THE TALENT GAP IN

BANGLADESH’S
DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND
Introduction
Bangladesh is an Over populated
Country
Goldman Sachs,
The internationally
famed investment banking and
securities firm, has identified
Bangladesh as one of 11 countries
with fast growth
The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr
Mahathir Mohammad
• Overpopulation is not a burden
• It can be turned into an asset for a
country
• If the people are provided with proper
education, training and become
resourceful in different respects
• Bangladesh could turn its 162 million
population into assets
Over population is an opportunity
and also a challenge
 Bangladesh
has the same opportunity because
age groups Statistics indicates that
we can provide educated and
talented man power if we can
meet up the infrastructural
development.
 AGE GROUP STATISTICS
• . 0-14 years: 33.8% (male 23,069,242;
female 21,995,457)
• 15-64 years: 62.8% (male 42,924,778;
female 40,873,077)
• 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,444,314;
female 2,069,816) (2002 est.)
 It should be 30%-40%
schoolchildren should be into
higher education unless the target
will not be achievable.
 We Can Have Demographic
Dividend if the 0-14 years: 33.8%
are provided with education,
training
 Thing Need to be Taken Care Off
• The Government of Bangladesh spends 2.4%
of GNP on education. This is the lowest
percentage in the region. Both India and Nepal
spend 3.2% of GNP on education. Pakistan
spends 2.7%.
• Primary school enrollment is approximately
94%. However, only 76% of students complete
class 5.
 Thing Need to be Taken Care Off
• Most non-enrolled children belong to socio-
economically disadvantaged households and
illiterate parents.
• The primary school dropout rate is 23.6%.
• The average attendance rate is 60%.
• On average, students take 6.6 years to
complete the five-year primary school
program.
‘No State Can Do It
on Its Own’
In terms of Bangladesh It is
very difficult for our state to
engage in building 30%
enrollment target.
• It has one of the largest
primary education systems in
the world, with an estimated
18 million primary school aged
children (ages 6 to 10 years)
• The student to teacher ratio in
government primary school is
59:1
• As a result of these and other factors,
school completion rates and academic
achievement remains low. Fifty-six
percent of children never enroll in
secondary school.
• Additionally, gender discrimination is
deeply entrenched in families and society
at large, preventing many girls from
attending school and fulfilling their
academic potential.
It is not possible for a state to give
enrollment for the 30% (40 million)
of the total population in the next
decade
 At present times we have only
31 Public and 54 Private
Universities To meet up the
need of 30% population we will
need almost 350 Universities.
The Business and NGO Should
Come Forward for this.
Getting On Board
Bangladesh’s
Wave
Room to Read The team will
also explore potential
opportunities for partnership
with local and national
government, non-profit
organizations, and communities
to establish libraries and girls
scholarships.
Be There, Do It
 Program Total Thru 2009 2010 (Projected)

Libraries 75 100
Established
New Local - 5
Language Titles

Schools - -
Constructed
Girls' Education 234 234
Participants
It is a matter also to be recognized
that the private sector in
Bangladesh has come forward to
invest in education and health
sectors (Private universities and
medical colleges, hospitals and
schools).
• IT is a matter also to be recognized that the private sector in Bangladesh has come
forward to invest in education and health sectors (Private universities and medical
colleges, hospitals and schools). This move needs to be strengthened to establish
more schools, medical colleges and universities all over the country, especially in the
north-western regions. It may be mentioned that there are 51 private universities in
Bangladesh, but none on the North-Western region. And among 30 private medical
colleges only two are on the other side of the river Jamuna, one at Bogra and the
other at Pabna. Excepting RU and KU four/five new public universities have been
recently set up in that region with very limited seats. So is the case with teachers
training institutes. There is a huge backlog in training teachers at schools- both
primary and secondary level. Currently there is acute shortage of teachers in all
stages of education.
• Teachers training colleges, medical and engineering colleges and universities should
be set up in all UZ towns in the private sector under public-private project fund in
ADP. Lots of questions will arise when public funds are to be placed with the private
sector. The GoB has already placed EEF initially with Bangladesh Bank to ICB for
some special projects in the agro and IT sector for the private sector. The same
approach may also be followed for P-P project fund.
•