The National Steering Committee approves a 10-level Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF)

ILO’s European Union funded Skills 21 project is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to establish the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF) for almost four years now since 2017. The BNQF development is steered by a National Steering Committee chaired by the honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Dipu Moni.

Secretaries from SHED, TMED, and NSDA are participating in the meeting© ILO
ILO DHAKA News- In 2012, the Government of Bangladesh adopted the National Technical and Vocational Qualification Framework (NTVQF), the first-ever NQF in the country. The NTVQF is comprehensive only for the TVET sector, hence it does not fully provide access to qualifications in the higher education, and other education sub-systems such as the schools sector, and Madrasah. This limits the qualification holders to move flexibly and readily between the education, training and the job market.

Although late, the Bangladesh government began to realize the need for a unified national qualification framework that would bring together all qualifications irrespective of the education streams. Her Excellency Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the first to mention the need for a Bangladesh qualification framework at the 2016 International Skills Summit organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This has been reiterated a couple of times during several skills conferences in 2017, 2018 and 2020.

ILO’s European Union funded Skills 21 project is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to establish the Bangladesh National Qualifications Framework (BNQF) for almost four years now since 2017. The BNQF development is steered by a National Steering Committee chaired by the honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Dipu Moni. The TMED Secretary, in coordination with the SHED Secretary, provides oversight to seven Technical Working Groups (TWGs) in the overall development process.

The ten-level BNQF structure has undergone about 40 robust consultations, meetings and workshops with stakeholders from the government, employers and workers groups. The basis of the BNQF is the NTVQF, developed in collaboration with the ILO and the European Union.

The proposed 10 level Bangladesh National Qualification Framework (BNQF) was endorsed during the second BNQF National Steering Committee (NSC) meeting at the Ministry of Education on January 31, 2021.

Education Minister and BNQF NSC Chair Dr. Dipu Moni said, “BNQF is a work in progress and there are still many actions and challenges ahead - such as the development of quality assurance systems to address institutional pathways for recognition of prior learning, bridging programmes, conversion of traditional to competency based training programmes. The government is determined to create all possible conditions to move forward in all aspects of education, skills and capabilities.”

Dr. Dipu Moni, Education Minister of Bangladsh participated and moderated the meeting virtually in the capacity of NSC chairperson© ILO
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister for Education Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury, Secretaries and top officials of the ministry and the members of the BNQF NSC.
The Country Director of ILO Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen said, “The BNQF is not just a piece of paper, but a real gateway to developing an empowered young population with the necessary skills and opportunities for productive and decent employment.”

The BNQF is one of the most significant instruments in reforming and managing the qualification systems in the country. For the first time, an overarching framework brings coherence to the sub-systems of qualifications such as higher education, schools system, Madrasah, and TVET including pre-vocational levels. The BNQF upholds life-long learning by opening up access, targeting investments and recognizing prior learning (RPL). Above all, the BNQF matches qualifications with knowledge, skills and competences, and increase employability by better relating qualifications to occupational needs.