Youth policies in South Asia: Where do Bangladesh stand?

A dynamic picture regarding socioeconomic advancements and opportunities is observed across the youth of South Asian countries.  These regions have adopted diversified strategies to utilize the potential of their young citizens to fight the challenges of unemployment, education, and civic participation. 

Bangladesh's National Youth Policy (2017) aims to empower the country's young population through a comprehensive approach, focusing on education, employment, health, and participation in governance.

Key areas include skill development and job creation, with a particular focus on leadership development among youth.

Among the educated youths, the unemployment rate is very high despite all the solid policy frameworks, and this mismatch is expected to be the critical obstacle to reducing youth unemployment.

India's National Youth Policy (NYP) 2021 emphasizes five priority areas: education, employment and entrepreneurship, youth leadership, health and fitness, and social justice.

Through initiatives like the Skill India Mission and the National Programme for Youth and Adolescent Development (NPYAD), the policy aims to empower India's large youth demographic by promoting skill development and leadership.

However, the implementation of these programs could be more consistent across states, leading to significant disparities in youth outcomes, particularly in less developed regions.

Pakistan's National Youth Policy (2009) tackles youth unemployment and education access, with an emphasis on vocational training and entrepreneurship.

In recent years, efforts have been made to integrate technology into education, equipping young people with the skills needed for the modern job market. However, the policy's execution has been hampered by political instability and resource shortages, resulting in slow progress toward youth empowerment goals.

Nepal's Youth Policy (2015) is centred on inclusivity and the active participation of young people in national development. The policy emphasizes access to quality education and the promotion of entrepreneurship among youth. However, due to insufficient government financing and inadequate infrastructure, the scope and opportunities of youth initiatives have been restricted. Although it's still improving, it's quite a way to reach these measures; Nepal recognized the need for stronger support services to meet the diverse requirements of its young people.

Sri Lanka's National Youth Policy (2008) focuses on youth empowerment through educational opportunities and skill development programs. The government has launched various initiatives targeting entrepreneurship and vocational training. However, despite these efforts, socioeconomic disparities continue to hinder equal access to opportunities for all youth. Young people from underprivileged communities often face significant barriers to education and employment, limiting the overall success of the country's youth policy.

Comparative analysis of outcomes

We observe a mixed picture of the effectiveness of youth policies in South Asia. Despite strong frameworks, Bangladesh continues to face high unemployment rates lately because of a disconnect between education and labor market demands.

This suggests the need for better alignment among vocational training programs and industry requirements. Conversely, India has made considerable progress through their proactive approaches by focusing on skill development all over the nation.

Regardless of regional disparities, persistent challenges remain the same as the rural areas need to be developed, and they're only focusing on urban area's development.  

Pakistan, due to political instability and resource constraints, needs help to implement its youth policy effectively. This has resulted in slow progress, particularly in reducing unemployment and promoting entrepreneurship among youth. Similarly, Nepal's focus on inclusivity, while commendable, needs more infrastructure and funding, preventing the full realization of its youth empowerment goals.

Sri Lanka has also made efforts to empower its youth through education and entrepreneurship programs, but socioeconomic inequalities limit the reach and impact of these initiatives, particularly for marginalized communities.

What should we do?

We can focus on strengthening skill development programs, which should align its vocational training programs with the contemporary labour market by collaborating with national and international industries.

Another highlight should be enhancing access to standard academic and practical education. It would be easy to execute with a necessary investment in the digital education systems and platforms. Entrepreneurship should be made a hot cake for young citizens by providing them with the required resources, facilities, training, and funding; side by side, traditional jobs and remote and hybrid jobs are to be promoted so that the employment field gets diversified. It shall indeed be very fruitful in fostering innovation, job creation, and economic growth.  

The government may also create scopes to recruit young creative minds and train them to lead the nation. Lastly, they may take the initiative to provide the young generations with mental health support to cope with the modern lifestyle and stay focused.

As a result, they'll become assets for the country. These initiatives will not only empower the country's young population but will also help the government achieve its socioeconomic goals, such as Vision 2041.

Samiha Mamun is an undergraduate student at the Army Institute of Business Administration (Army IBA), affiliated with the Bangladesh University of Professionals in Savar, Dhaka. She can be reached at [email protected]