Lao, Thai cooperation on skill development continues

This new curriculum development initiative is part of a technical assistance and capacity building project for teachers at technical institutes throughout the Greater Mekong Subregion.

 

The new curriculums are planned to be developed and rolled out over the next two years at institutes for skill development and the Ministry of Education and Sports’ technical schools countrywide.

Director General of the Department for Technical and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports,  Nouphanh Outsa confirmed the plan at the meeting.

 

Meanwhile Deputy Director of the Department of Labour at the Thai Ministry of Labour, Singhadet Chu-umnart said at the ceremony that the  new curriculum to improve the format and guidelines for the preparation of training courses would boost development potential and the nation’s capacity to achieve more sustainable development.

 

Nouphanh Outsa reiterated that the new  curriculums will boost teaching and learning standards at skills institutes and technical schools throughout the country.

 

He said the old curriculums cannot meet with the needs of companies and the labour market in Laos because the old curriculums are aimed mostly at the development of family businesses after graduation.

 

Nouphanh was confident the new curriculum development course will contribute to developing the capacities of academic experts to design and develop training courses at technical schools and institutes for skill development. 

 

“The new curriculums can work with private companies because these curriculums will respond to the needs of the private companies,” he added.

 

The Department of Technical and Vocational Education  has been encouraging the private sector to operate the private companies for several years, aimed at helping newly graduated students to find employment if they miss the opportunity to work with government.

 

However the private sector curriculums are also lacking in some respects and need to be upgraded in order to meet the needs of businesses seeking skilled and qualified graduates.

 

According to the Department for Technical and Vocational Education, there are currently some 132 institutes for skill development and technical schools throughout the country, administered by both the public and private sectors.