Unlocking Potential in the Global Workforce

Quality education is the basis of a country's economic development and social stability. There is no substitute for quality and timely education to strengthen the foundation of students' professional skills, morals, and self-confidence. In today's world, it is imperative to modernise the education system to survive in the competitive market. Our current education system lags far behind in imparting the necessary skill, the sooner we realise this constant fact, the better it will be for us. Otherwise, one day, we will not have any momentum in the labour market to keep up with the times. As a nation, we will be far behind. Our education system is not producing a genuinely competent, moral and confident population but rather a malnourished crippled population, most of whom are once again mired in a sick second-class mentality. We need to overhaul our education system to overcome our own and state limitations in education. The foundation of ethics needs to be restructured in a timely and realistic manner so that students can prepare themselves to face any global challenge.

The quality of the education system is crucial for economic development and social stability of Bangladesh, as well as for building the leadership skills of future generations. The education system should be developed in such a way, which not only imparts knowledge-, but also helps build the right mix of morals, values ​​and self-confidence in the students. Creating an effective education system that combines ancient philosophy with modern technological needs is imperative. Looking at the ancient history of Bengal, it is seen that our old education system mainly emphasised morality and character building. The guru-disciple tradition is where the teacher imparts knowledge to the students and helps them develop human qualities. Confucius's philosophy emphasised ethics and human relationships. He believed that education gave equal importance to professional skills, responsibility towards society, and self-development as an ideal citizen. Similarly, the "Gurukul" system in ancient Indian educational philosophy aimed at students' physical, mental, social and spiritual development.

The education system in Bangladesh must emphasise certain principles to prepare students for lifelong learning. At the same time, it will develop their moral character and self-confident personalities. With the advancement of technology in modern era, ethics may seem to be losing importance, but in fact, no society can survive without ethics. The curriculum should include lessons on ethics and values to impart moral education to the students. Building confidence among students is very important. They need to be developed in such a way that they are not only ready for the job market but also able to lead society. To create a confident and moral personality, the education system should incorporate the elements of ethics, thinking ability and self-purification of ancient teachings. Combining the moral foundations of ancient education and modern technology can be the central aspect of an improved education system. Students should be equipped with technological knowledge and innovative skills, enabling them to face global challenges. For example, the expansion of information technology and digital education can be an essential part of the education system in Bangladesh.

Creating equal educational opportunities for all classes is very important for the development of Bangladesh. The education gap between urban and rural areas should be reduced, and equal opportunities should be provided to every student, regardless of their background. For this, investment at the public and private levels should be increased, and education should be expanded in remote areas. In addition to education, diverse learning opportunities should be provided to enhance students' interests and skills in technology, creativity and the arts. Through this, students can increase their creative thinking and innovative abilities, which will contribute to developing the country's industry, culture and economy. Recently, there has been some discussion about the presence of Indians in Bangladesh's job market. Many complain that Indian workers are taking many jobs in Bangladesh, especially in the technology, banking, and IT sectors. However, there is no use in making such complaints or blaming others. Instead, we can survive and succeed in the national and global job market by improving our skills, confidence, and attitude.

The international success of Indian workers proves that if one has enough skills and a positive attitude, one can succeed in the local job market and at the global level. For example, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google; Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft; Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM; and Parag Agarwal, CEO of Twitter—are all prominent faces from India. More than fifty multinational companies have CEOs of Indian origin. However, this success is not only due to their Indian identity but also their skills, confidence, and never-ending learning mindset. This can be an essential lesson for us. We must understand that Bangladesh and the global job market are open to us. There are job opportunities all over the world. If we can improve our skills, work with the right attitude and never give up, we can strengthen our position in the country and internationally. But without any thought, it can be said that we have not yet created this situation. We are still far behind. To do so, we should stop gossiping and lying. Try to be brilliant first without getting the title of genius and refraining from blaming others for taking jobs, removing religious superstitions and bigotry from the mind.

Let's all simultaneously speak out to bring radical changes in our education system. For overall improvement, we need to focus on some things. First, we need to teach students to be confident. Without confidence, a person cannot present himself or his work correctly. Secondly, the habit of learning should be developed at every stage of life. In today's world, technology and other fields are changing so fast that if we don't learn at every stage of life, there is a chance of falling behind. Along with increasing skills, we also need to change our attitude. It is imperative to face challenges positively and never give up. Those who can sustain themselves in difficult times will be successful in the future. We must create opportunities in the global job market with our skills and positive attitude.

Therefore, instead of complaining about the presence of Indians in the job market, we should focus on increasing our skills and confidence. If we can work well, efficiently, and with a positive attitude towards life, then we can get job opportunities within the country and in different countries of the world. By building our own, we can create our position worldwide and prove that we are one of the best in the world. Instead of blaming others, our primary goal should be to focus on our development. It is a fact that Bangladesh's current education system cannot meet the demands of the workplace. Our students are falling behind in the local and international job market. Therefore, to create world-class workers, we must bring fundamental changes to our education system. Employers worldwide want employees who can lead, solve problems and adapt to changing situations. But there is a shortage of those skills among our students. They only acquire knowledge through the trial-based learning process. We were not being prepared to face real-life challenges. It is time for us to look at ourselves and prepare for the future. If we do not change ourselves, surviving in the world's fast-changing job market will be difficult. The education system should focus on knowledge and skills required in the workplace, such as creativity, solution-oriented thinking, teamwork, and communication skills. Our students should focus on acquiring the necessary skills for today's world.

Our mindset should be that we want to be the best in Bangladesh and globally. Therefore, by transforming the education system and teaching a lifelong learning mindset among students, we can become more competitive in the future. Self-confidence, mastery, and learning are the keys to moving forward. We should understand that we cannot reach any solution by blaming others only. Indian workers have proven themselves in the global job market, as they have a lifelong learning mindset and hard work ethic. We have to move in the same direction. Global opportunities are open to us, and we must focus on our development to exploit those opportunities. Therefore, it is imperative to take timely steps to bridge the gap between our education system and the workplace demands. Apart from developing students as confident, ethical and efficient workers, they must prepare them to face global challenges. People who lack self-efficacy and self-confidence often tend to blame others. Strong and confident people focus on improving themselves, not wasting time blaming others. So, we must learn from our weaknesses and use our strengths to move forward. Through this change, Bangladesh will be able to consolidate its position in the country's job market and at the global level.

So, transforming education system is a necessity and an urgent priority to ensure the  future competitiveness and stability of the nation. A reformed education system must emphasise the development of a well-rounded individual, blending professional competence, ethical integrity, and self-confidence. By shifting away from rote memorisation and outdated methods, we can foster students' critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to adapt to the fast-changing demands of the global job market. Equally important is bridging the educational divide between urban and rural areas, ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has access to quality education and opportunities.

Incorporating ancient wisdom, such as the moral teachings of the Gurukul system, and modern technological advancements, like digital education, will provide students with the tools they need to excel. Ethical values and lifelong learning should be central to this reform, as these qualities will prepare students to lead professionally and personally. Furthermore, by fostering a mindset of continuous growth and resilience, Bangladesh can create a generation capable of competing with and excelling alongside global talent. Instead of focusing on external competition, such as foreign workers, we must improve our skills and attitudes. By doing so, Bangladesh can build a strong, confident, and globally competitive workforce, positioning itself as a significant player on the world stage. This change in mindset, coupled with a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, will be the key to ensuring sustainable development of Bangladesh and success in the future.