A government initiative to build 23 new polytechnic institutes, launched in 2018 to address skill shortages, is facing significant delays. The project aimed to create thousands of qualified technicians within three years, but completion is now pushed to at least 2025, with potential for further setbacks.
Land acquisition issues are a major roadblock. While land has been secured for 16 institutes, development remains stalled and acquisition hasn’t even begun for seven others. This significantly impacts progress, with financial spending at just 8.8% and physical progress at a mere 17% as of February 2024.
The Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) identified land acquisition as the primary culprit for the delays. Land development, construction, and procurement haven’t started due to this ongoing hurdle.
Despite extensions granted in June 2022, the project struggles to meet revised deadlines. Only a small fraction of construction and procurement tenders have been issued.
IMED warns of potential cost increases for equipment and machinery due to delays. Additionally, the lack of land for several institutes and a shortage of skilled workers threaten the project’s goals.
The report recommends a revised action plan and proper feasibility checks to get the project back on track.
These institutes aim to provide technical education opportunities across 23 districts, with a focus on including women and people with disabilities. The project hopes to reduce unemployment, promote self-employment, and create a skilled workforce to meet Bangladesh’s growing technical needs.