Along with specialization, other needs for emphasis are: bridging the gaps in knowledge and skills of technicians and sub-professionals; providing a comprehensive training programme at the vocational level to improve productivity; establishing a regular and intensive programme of upgrading in-service training and continuing education; establishing facilities for training personnel for forest industrial and business establishments; and making available trained teachers and trainers.
Bangladesh has eight institutions offering education and training services in forestry. Until recently, Institute of Forestry of the Chittagong University (IFCU) was the only body in the country offering university level education in forestry. It enrols 40 national students and there is provision for five foreign students. The course takes eight semesters, covering a period of four years and leads to a BSc (Honours) degree in Forestry. The Institute is contemplating starting a Masters degree course in Forestry. The newly established Khulna University started a Forestry and Wood Technology discipline in 1992. This offers a four-year course leading to a bachelor's degree with an intended average intake of 40 students annually. Also the Bangladesh Agriculture University in Mymensingh has started a degree course in agroforestry.
The Bangladesh Forest Academy reconstituted as the Forest College at Chittagong, supplies inservice training for the Forest Department. After strengthening, this will provide facilities for three types of refresher courses:
· Orientation course for newly recruited professionals (six months).
· Professional course for selected senior Forest Rangers (three months).
· Refresher officer course (three months).
Sylhet Forest School, opened in 1948 is undergoing conversion into a Forest Guard Training Centre, Rajshahi Forest School, formerly accommodated 50 students with an output of 25 per year and followed a two-year diploma course. With the introduction of three years diploma course, the annual input will drop down to 15 students. Chittagong Forest School is expected to have an annual input of 50 foresters.
The Kaptai Forest Development and Training Centre (FDTC) provides vocation level training to workers with a yearly output of 300 trainees in:
· Basic logging, timber harvesting and road construction.
· Equipment and maintenance.
· Saw doctoring and sawmilling maintenance.
· Extension forestry for rural development.
Extension training centres, located at nursery sites, under afforestation and nursery development, provide extension training throughout the country for plantation assistants. Additionally, BFIDC runs a training centre for rubber tappers in Chittagong.
None of the above programmes are liked and are not based on any long term training needs assessment, but are derived from arbitrary decisions. Facilities available are generally poor, and there are none to meet the special training needs of forest industries or the large number of people involved in forestry activities in the unorganized or informal sector.
