1 Technical Vocational Education and Training (Myanmar Case) 1. Introduction The development of the world today does not rely on its natural resources and prosperity, but on the quality of its human resources. All 13 ministries in Myanmar including the Ministry of Education, take the responsibility of the Higher Education. The ministry of Education is also the centre that develops human resource. Most of the institutions in Myanmar are under Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Technology. Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security leads to form National Skills Standards Authority (NSSA) and NSSA is now establishing skill recognition system of workers in Myanmar. 2. Human Resource Development Programmes in Ministry of Education The National Centre for Human Resource Development(NCHRD) was established by the Ministry of Education in June 1998 in accordance with the decision arrived at the seminar held earlier in March to diversify education opportunities in order to produce highly qualified human resource needed by a modernizing economy. Upholding the belief that education is a lifelong learning process, the centres function with the following main aims: - to widen the scope of choices for students wishing to pursue job-related knowledge, skills and technology - to establish new programmes for training and re-training - to offer opportunities to those graduates who desire to continue with their studies to acquire advanced skills and knowledge - to establish a parallel education system which nurtures intellectuals and experts needed by the country - to enable those who wish to continue their studies to do so without being a burden to the State - to economize on the budget provided by the State by conducting courses that charge a minimum amount of tuition fees - to prevent education wastage by enabling those who have not completed their tertiary level education to do so at their own pace and during their free time
2 - to confer degrees, diplomas and certificates appropriate to the curriculum and length of the courses - to utilize retired academics in order to make use of their skills and knowledge Under the National Centre for Human Resource Development (NCHRD), the Centres for Human Resource Development were established at every higher education institution of Ministry of Education. The centres identify community needs and initiate vocational, professional and technology based courses that are in demand. The centres for human resource development began their activities in 1998 with certificate and undergraduate diploma courses, but they have now begun to offer degree, postgraduate diploma, and even postgraduate degree courses. The Human Resource Development Centre of Yangon University opened certificate courses on Food Technology, Basic Library Science, Basic Electronics, Gemology (Basic and Advanced) and Information Technology and the Global English course among others. Yangon University of Foreign Languages and Mandalay University of Foreign Languages Human Resource Development Centres are catering to the foreign language needs of the workforce by opening English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Thai language proficiency courses. The demand for business related courses is also being met by the Human Resource Development Centres. The Diploma in Commercial Law was initiated by Yangon University and Mandalay University Human Resource Development Centres. The Diploma in Business Studies (DBS), Diploma in Financial Accounting (DFAc), Diploma in Management Accounting (DMAc), Certificate in Business Studies (CBS), Certificate in Advanced Business Studies (CABS) courses were opened by Yangon Institute of Economics Human Resource Development Centre. Diploma in Economics courses, Basic Applied Economic courses, Advanced Level Applied Economics courses, Financial and Management Accountancy courses, Agriculture and Regional Development Studies courses, Certificate Course in Applied Information Technology were also opened at Monywa Institute of Economics Human Resource Development Centre. Courses on social studies, culture and fine arts were also opened by higher education institutions in order to provide individual interest programmes. A number of courses opened by the human resource development centres were held in partnership with foreign and local private enterprises contributing to their practical relevance. Yangon University of Foreign Languages Human Resource Development Centre in collaboration with TOPA 21 st Century Language School of Japan opened Japanese language courses. Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering and Network Engineering courses have been opened at New Century Resource Centre run by the National Centre for Human Resource Development in collaboration with Winner Computer Group, a private computer company.
formal 3 As these courses are held in parallel to the regular programmes at higher education institutions, this arrangement is often referred to as the one-campus-multi-system arrangement. The CHRDs will continue to strive to identify the needs of the communities they are based in, promote programmes that fulfill the needs of communities, regions and the state and participate in the development of qualified manpower needed for a modernizing and developing economy. 2. Ministry of Science and Technology Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) was established in October 1996. Departments under MOST are: Department of Technical and Vocational Education (DTVE) Department of Advanced Science and Technology (DAST) Myanmar Scientific and Technological Research Department (MSTRD) Materials Science and Materials Engineering Research Department (MSMERD) Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) Department of Technology Promotion and Coordination (DTPC) The followings are man power planning of MOST. MAEU Computer studies (UCS) GTI / GTC / TU GTI B.Tech B.E M.E/Ph.D. HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL THS Non formal PRIMARY SCHOOL Over 5 yrs old Machinery repair & maintenance schools Handicraft schools MOST manpower planning 16
4 GTI / GTC / TU M.E/Ph.D. Technological Expertise B.E Engineers B.Tech Technicians GTI Technicians THS Skilled Workers 17 To address the future human resource development, we make reforms. Reforms are underway 1. To organize competency based curriculum (especially for technicians) 2. Planning for laboratory equipment and machinery for practical works 3. Capacity building for teaching staff (qualified and proficient ) 4. To find available ways to support and promote research works 5. To enhance the possibilities of regional cooperation 3. Ministry of Labour,Employment and Social Security Myanmar became ASEAN member in 1997.We intend economic cooperation and market of common workers among ASEAN countries in order to become ASEAN Economic Community-AEC. We also intend the occurrence of free flow of goods, free flow of services, free flow of capital and free flow of skilled labour. The skill recognition system in ASEAN Project was launched in 2004 by the assistance of cooperation developed plan of ASEAN-Australia. Now Myanmar forms National Skills Standards Authority(NSSA) and carry out the required tasks. One of the tasks is fixing the competency and issuing the recognition certificate.
5 It is formed 14 Occupational Competency Standard Committes(OCSCs). 1. Metal and Engineering Industry OCSC 2. Construction OCSC 3. Woodworking Industry OCSC 4. Agricultural OCSC 5. Livestock and Fishery OCSC 6. Transport Industry OCSC 7. Mining Industry OCSC 8. Information Technology OCSC 9. Health Services OCSC 10. Social Welfare Services OCSC 11. Manufacturing Industry OCSC 12. Commercial and Business Services OCSC 13. Hotel and Tourism OCSC 14. Oil and Natural Gases OCSC These OCSCs specify 155 competencies from 14 ministries and 3 associations. In order to improve education and training, effective National Qualification Framework is to be laid down. In implementing National Qualification Framework, leadership and political commitments are required for effective policy and managements, such as quality assurance system for the active participation of the stakeholders of all societal institutions in the program of National Qualification Framework and for their high performance and implementation. The advantages for having National Qualification Framework are; - Can draw up effective policy for the improvement of education and teaching system; Can have mobile learning as mobile workers from one country to another; Can have chances overseas learning for the students as overseas employment; and Can implement for the development of human resource for employment market at national level.
6 Therefore, for the development of overseas employment for Myanmar workers and for the participation of Myanmar in ASEAN community in 2015, Myanmar is required to have Myanmar Qualification Framework as National Qualification Framework in order to link Regional Qualification Framework of ASEAN. In the course of upgrading the national education and capacity, the determination of standard of skills is made by NSSA and recognized certificate relating to the skill concerned is obtained for every citizen of the State according to the National Qualification Framework which will provide the assistance for the implementation of the human resource development and that of the work environment development. 4. Conclusion The establishment of our Myanmar Democratic State is in its initial stage. We have many new things in this rapidly progressing world that we haven t had opportunity to learn and study ever before. It is sure to have challenges in our tasks. However, by engaging our tasks and functions in conscientiously, we can definitely achieve our goal of democracy.