The written selection test for the eighth batch of the Department of Youth Development’s freelancing training programme was held simultaneously across all 64 districts of Bangladesh on Saturday, with 52,200 candidates taking part.
The examination began at 9:00am as part of the government’s initiative to create employment opportunities for educated young job seekers through freelancing training.
The admission process is being conducted under the project titled “Employment Creation through Freelancing Training for Educated Job-Seeking Youth in 64 Districts”, implemented by the Department of Youth Development under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. IT company e-Learning & Earning Ltd. is responsible for implementing the training programme under the project.
A total of 81,400 applications were submitted for 4,800 training places in the eighth batch. Following verification and screening, 52,200 applications were deemed valid, and eligible applicants were invited to sit for the written selection test held on Saturday.
During the examination, Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Md. Motahar Hossain, Director General of the Department of Youth Development, visited an examination centre in Kallyanpur, Dhaka, to observe the proceedings. Officials concerned also supervised the examination process in other districts across the country.
A total of 5,500 candidates took the written test at the headquarters of e-Learning & Earning Ltd. in Kallyanpur. The large turnout across the country reflects strong interest among young people in acquiring digital skills and pursuing income-generating opportunities through freelancing.
Candidates who qualify in the written test will appear for an oral examination on Sunday, September 20. Following the final selection, the eighth batch of the freelancing training programme will begin with 4,800 trainees, with 75 trainees selected from each district.
According to data from the Department of Youth Development, a total of 19,200 people have so far completed training under the project. Of them, approximately 64%, or 12,354 trainees, have reportedly been able to earn income by working on various national and international freelancing marketplaces.
Their combined earnings are estimated at approximately US$3.439 million, equivalent to around BDT 423 million (Tk 42.3 crore).