Govt plans to raise vocational school standards

The Education Ministry will establish the Thailand Vocational Qualification Institute (TVQI) to raise the standards of vocational schools nationwide.

This TVQI represents the goal of the Industry, Labour and Education ministries and the private sector to develop skilled workers to serve expected demand in industry.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said yesterday that the development of skilled workers would enhance the country's competitiveness and go hand-in-hand with the hike in minimum wages and the improvement of efficiency and productivity.

Thailand during the global financial crisis a few years ago faced high unemployment, but this has turned into a labour shortage. The problem will intensify once the global economy recovers. High food prices will be another factor to accelerate the movement of industrial workers to the agricultural sector.

The system encourages students to enrol in universities, not vocational schools, he added.

Payungsak Chartsuthipol, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said major industries such as automobiles, electric appliances, electronic components and machinery were expected to lack 250,000-300,000 workers over the next five years.

"Manufacturers have to describe the workers' qualifications. Then the educational system - the vocational schools - will have to tailor programmes so that it can produce human resources to serve the demand. I expect to see close collaboration between the public and private sectors," he said.

Dusit Nontanakorn, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the value system in the past was to study management, so industry now lacks skilled workers. This has to change.

Sasithara Pichaicharnnarong, director of the TVQI, said vocational courses would focus on problem-solving, not theory, so graduates can work immediately.