Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Sunday inaugurated a national training programme for college teachers aimed at integrating skills-based and technical education into the curriculum of the National University (NU).

The programme, titled “Inclusion of Skills-Based Education in National University Curriculum,” was launched at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital's Agargaon area.

The Prime Minister formally inaugurated the programme by pressing a button on a laptop around 11:25am.

The NU has undertaken the programme to develop a skilled teaching workforce capable of delivering employment-oriented and technical education. Under the initiative, 12,000 college teachers from across the country will be trained in phases.

Speakers at the event highlighted the importance of vocational and technical education under the slogan, “We will receive skills-based education and work across the world.”

During the programme, NU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ASM Amanullah and other teachers presented the Prime Minister with a commemorative crest and a sapling.

A documentary showcasing different aspects of the lives and contributions of late President Ziaur Rahman, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was screened at the beginning of the event.

Education Minister Dr ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Education, and Primary and Mass Education Mahdi Amin, and Amanullah also addressed the programme.

Officials said students under the revised curriculum will receive training in freelancing, entrepreneurship development, digital marketing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.

To support the implementation of the curriculum, 900 master trainers have already been prepared.

They will gradually train 12,000 teachers across the country, enabling them to effectively teach the new courses and equip students with skills demanded by the modern job market.

The initiative is expected to strengthen employment-oriented education and enhance graduates' competitiveness at home and abroad.