GAIBANDHA, – Speakers at a function here today underscored the need for bringing the persons with disabilities particularly the youths under the technical vocational educational training (TVET) system for their betterment.

“Through TVET reform, technical education has spread across the country. Many of those who are poor and meritorious have been awarded scholarships. So, all the stakeholders of the society should forward with a positive attitude to work for the persons with disabilities”, they also said.

They made the comments while addressing a special dialogue on Disability Inclusion in TVET system with Institutional Management Advisory Boards (IMAB), Local Enterprises, Parents of Students with Disabilities and Civil Society Stakeholders at the conference room of Technical Training Center (TTC) at Farazipara, an outskirt of the district town with the financial support of European Union, the Government of Bangladesh and International Labor Organization on Monday.

Senior instructor of Computer of TTC Md. Amir Hossain, president of Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) freedom fighter Moksudar Rahman Shahan, Principal of TTC Abdur Rahim, programme officer of Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) Mahfuza Akhter and co-founder and executive director of Access Bangladesh Foundation Albert Mollah addressed the function among others.

The speakers termed the challenged people as an integral part of the society and put emphasis on bringing the persons with disabilities under the mainstream of the development through creating TVET Friendly Environment in the society.

President of GCCI Moksudar Rahman Shahan underlined the need for ensuring a friendly atmosphere for the person with disabilities securing a dignified position for them in the society.

Principal of the TTC engineer Abdur Rahim said technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) serves multiple purposes.

A key purpose is preparation of youth for work. This takes the form of learning and developing work related skills and mastery of underlying knowledge and scientific principles, he added.

Programme officer of Bangladesh Business and Disability Network (BBDN) Mahfuza Akhter said the people with special needs are not the burden of the society but wealth and assets. They have to be built as worthy citizens of the society.

Co-founder and executive director of Access Bangladesh Foundation Albert Mollah said we should bring the disabled into the mainstream so that they could avail all sorts of facilities as citizens of the country.

A number of IMAB members, local enterprises, stakeholders of the society including journalists took part in the special dialogue.