The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed $150 million to upgrade Bangladesh’s technical education system, Economic Relations Division (ERD) officials confirmed.

The concessional loan, carrying a 2% interest rate over 25 years, will fund a wide-ranging programme aimed at enhancing the quality and reach of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) across the country.

At the heart of the initiative is a plan to train at least 10,000 existing and new TVET teachers under the TVET Teachers for Future (TTF) programme.

The Department of Technical Education (DoTE) will oversee implementation, to improve teaching standards, especially in rural areas where access to quality training remains limited.

Key components of the TTF programme include the establishment of two new TVET Teacher Training Colleges in Chattogram and Khulna, and the expansion of existing institutions in Dhaka and Bogura.

Seven polytechnic institutes will also undergo infrastructure upgrades, and a dedicated Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) training centre will be built in Dhaka.

These developments will enable the training of 1,000 teachers annually in upgraded facilities, including residential capacity, 25% of which will be reserved for female participants.

The programme aligns with Bangladesh’s Integrated TVET Development Action Plan (ITDAP), which supports goals outlined in Vision 2041 and the Eighth Five-Year Plan.

The ITDAP requires a total investment of $5 billion, with other development partners—including the World Bank, EU, JICA, and Global Affairs Canada—expected to contribute over $437 million collectively.