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Digital divide hinders disability inclusion in tech workforce: experts
STAR BUSINESS REPORT
A lack of specially tailored skill training programmes that match the market demand and poor access to digital devices are the main barriers deterring persons with disabilities from entering ICT sector jobs, according to experts.
A large portion of persons with disabilities could be trained in ICT skills through e-learning processes, they said at a roundtable at The Daily Star Centre in Dhaka yesterday.
Swisscontact, in association with the Embassy of the Netherlands and The Daily Star, organised the programme titled “Equity in ICT: Inclusive Training Pathways for Persons with Disabilities”.
Aziza Ahmed, head of operations at Bangladesh Business and Disability Network, highlighted a significant gap between the skills offered by available training programmes targeting persons with disabilities and the requirements of the industry.
“Mainstream training centres provide market-driven skill training, while disability-focused training centres offer basic training, which does not align with market needs,” she said.
She advocated for mainstream training centres collaborating with disability-focused training facilities to equip persons with disabilities.
The collaboration, she said, should focus on skills demanded by ICT firms and the current market.
“If we aim to upgrade the capabilities of persons with disabilities, we need to provide mid- to higher-level training, such as in data analytics and cybersecurity, rather than focusing solely on basic skills like graphic design or data entry,” she added.
Fahim Mashroor, CEO of bdjobs.com, the largest job portal in the country, pointed out that many persons with disabilities could acquire ICT skills from home if they were provided with digital devices.
“Disability is not an obstacle to learning ICT skills,” he said.
“Training programmes should supply digital devices, such as computers or laptops, alongside e-learning courses and a year-long internet plan. This would be sufficient for skilling them up.”
Mashroor also said that the Bangladesh Bank should introduce collateral-free loans for persons with disabilities aspiring to become entrepreneurs.
Swisscontact is implementing the “Building Youth Employability Through Skills” (BYETS) project with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh.
Nadia Afrin Shams, team leader at Swisscontact, shared that the organisation is focusing on three sectors -- ICT, RMG and agro-processing. By 2026, over 25,000 youths across 12 districts will be trained.
She said with a view that ICT can be a viable solution for people with mobility disabilities and making the BYETS project inclusive, the ICT training for persons with disabilities was introduced in collaboration with the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP).
“There were significant challenges initially due to the lack of appropriate infrastructure, institutions, and capacity,” she said.
“Even after the training, many individuals will face difficulties working because they lack access to devices. A multi-stakeholder partnership is essential to address this gap,” she added.
Mohammad Sohrab Hossain, executive director at CRP, said that while progress is being made, the development of skilled workforces from persons with disabilities is still far from optimal.
“However, it’s a positive sign that we’ve initiated this effort,” he added.
Riduan Rahman, a trainee at CRP under Swisscontact’s project, emphasised the need for representation of persons with disabilities in the design of programmes aimed at their development.
Other speakers included Ruhi Murshid Ahmed, adviser at Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills; Birendra Nath Adhikary, CEO of CT Industry Skills Council; Vashkar Bhattacharjee, a national consultant for accessibility at A2i; Hari Pada Das, TVET Institutional Strengthening expert at Technical Assistance of European Union for Human Capital Development Programme Bangladesh; and Shararat Islam, communications analyst at UN Women.
The discussion was moderated by Tanjim Ferdous, in-charge for NGOs and foreign missions at The Daily Star.