‘Quality education, youth leadership - a must for smooth development of SDGs’

Quality education is essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, said speakers at a seminar in the capital.

Though Bangladesh has been successful in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the achievement can be marred in the case of SDGs, if required measures are not taken at the proper time. 

Speakers were of the opinion at a day-long symposium titled – “Youth Conference 2018: Bangladesh and Agenda 2030 – Aspiration of the youth”, organized by The Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, to make the youth aware about SDGs and their role in implementing the goals.  

Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, Convenor of the Platform and Distinguished Fellow of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said “When we discuss the success of the young generation, we need to remember that we are yet to make best use of their contribution to our country. If not, it is a huge wastage of national resources.” 

He informed that some 30% of the total voters will be the youth in the next national election. Their voice and aspirations should be considered while making the election manifesto. Promises should be fulfilled accordingly through policy making for national development. 

He identified substandard quality of education, lack of capacity building initiatives; drug addiction and extremism are the main obstacles towards SDG achievement. Further, concentration should be placed on youths from remote areas like haors, chars (dried up river shoal) or from Dalit, and the indigenous community. 

Opinions, suggestions

Buet Professor Dr Mohammad Kaykobad in a session – Quality Education –said the quality of education is deteriorating day by day. As a result, employers are reluctant to accept the education certificates as well. 

While the allocation to education should increase it has dropped to 2.2% of GDP this year from 2.49 last year, showing how serious we are in improving this sector, he added.

“There is no alternative but to transform our youth into human resources for sustainable progress” he said.

He emphasized on reducing corruption in the education sector. 

Rasheda K Chowdhury the chairperson of the session said, ensuring quality education for all citizens is the responsibility of the state.

She laid importance on formulating proper policy in order to improve the primary education scenario that children are not engaged in hazardous work and can enter into professional life at the suitable age with at least a technical certificate.

Meanwhile, the indigenous community leader Sanjeeb Drong, also general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Forum in a session – Participatory youth leadership – said children between the age group of 15 to 24, always remain neglected by the state and society. 

“There is no procedure to engage this working group by facilitating blue collar jobs in accordance to their ability and be a part of the work force. They have to wait for jobs till age of 30 when most of the hard working days have gone past,” he added.

Creating visionary leadership among youth, building capacity sharing network among remote areas and social organizations and lack of initiatives to change social mindset and taboos were the points of discussion.

Shaveena Anam, Communications Manager of Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) said “Youth participation in politics is still very low. We need to

work on how we could engage them at the decision making level for their betterment.”

Eminent media personality, Hanif Sanket said “Elders of the society have gathered huge wisdom. If this wisdom could pass to youths correctly, it would create a good impact to achieve SDGs timely.” 

Right Activists Sultana Kamal said inequality and discrimination are still prevailing in the society. The youth need to step forward against all these odds. 

“We want society where every citizen, regardless of any other fact could stand together showing respect to each other.”   

Gowher Rizvi, Prime Minister's Adviser on International Affairs and also chief guest at the program, said development without inclusion of all would never be sustainable. Time has come for the youth to come in. 

“The youth should not wait for facilities available to them; rather they should search for what they can do for the country. And only then the country would get its required development from the young generation.”