The school that built hope on an island

A remote school surrounded by the sea in Cox’s Bazar is now offering certified training in trades like masonry, plumbing and electrical work. This helps keep opportunities close to home, empowering young people to build careers and strengthen their community.

Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh (ILO News) - On Moheskhali Island, the sea has always shaped life - sometimes offering, often taking. For years, it seemed to take more than it gave. Young people like Faria watched boats sail away toward opportunity, while their own dreams stayed behind, stuck in the sand.

“There was nothing here for us,” Faria says. “No training, no jobs. Just waiting.” Her voice carries the weight of a generation raised with little hope of building a future in their own home.

That began to change when something unexpected happened - not in a far-off city, but right at the heart of their own community, Moheshkhali Island’s High School (MIHS) came up. With support from the ILO’s ISEC project, Moheshkhali Island High School, located on a remote island off the Bay of Bengal that was often cut off by sea and frequently affected by natural disasters, was transformed into a Skills Training Provider (STP). The school is now offering National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) certified courses in plumbing, electrical work, and masonry. For the first time, practical, nationally accredited training arrived at their doorstep.

"I held a trowel for the first time. People laughed. Said I shouldn’t be doing ‘men’s work.’ But when I laid my first straight wall, I knew I belonged here." 

Faria Jahangir, Student of MIHS, Masonry Course.

She wasn’t alone. Fourteen young women, alongside dozens of young men, joined the program - many of them previously out of work, out of school, and out of options. Nesarullah, who dropped out of school, mastered wiring switches. "My teacher said, ‘Your hands heal broken circuit and our community,’" he recalls. "For the first time, I felt important." He also shared, “My teacher told me, ‘You can light up homes and futures.’ That stuck with me.” Today, he’s wiring homes across the island, his income helping feed his family. 

MIHS is just one of the 10 training centres set up across Cox’s Bazar district under the ISEC project, focused on reaching youth and women in hard-to-reach places like Kutubdia and other remote upazilas. By bringing training directly into communities, the project removes major barriers, i.e. travel costs, safety concerns, and long absences from home, that often keep rural youth from accessing education.

"This local approach means young people don’t have to leave their communities to gain skills. And employers benefit too - they can hire trained, certified workers who already understand the local context." 

Md. Serajul Islam, National Programme Manager, ILO, Cox's Bazar.

Since its launch, the Moheshkhali center has trained 160 young people in three courses, 33 of them women. Of these, 143 were certified by NSDA following formal assessments, representing a commendable success rate of 89%. Employment follow-up has revealed that 78.32% of the certified graduates are now engaged in local industries, contributing to the workforce and improving their household livelihoods.

A local construction manager says, “These aren’t just workers. They’re rebuilding their own island. That makes a difference.” Arshad Mahmud, NSDA-certified assessor, stated, "This school proves skills change destinies – especially on forgotten islands."

Today, the old school bell rings with a new purpose. Where once young people looked to the sea and saw only distance, now they see possibility - rising strong, brick by brick, wire by wire, from the heart of their island.