PM pushes for boost in workforce for mega-projects
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PRIME MINISTER Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered that three working groups be set up to oversee development of vocational education in preparation for her government's Bt2-trillion and Bt35-billion mega-projects.
Chaipreuk Sereerak, secretary-general of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, said that after a meeting on September 27, Yingluck said these working groups were urgently needed to supply vocational personnel, come up with funding for vocational study and reform the vocational-education system.
The National Economic and Social Development Board will act as secretary of the first two reform groups under the National Education Council.
Chaipreuk said that since the government was waiting to kick off its mega-projects for transport infrastructure and flood control, there was an urgent need for the commission to produce a workforce that meets the requirements.
It is estimated that the projects will require about 100,000 personnel with professional and high-professional certificates in the field of construction over the next three years. However, all the vocational colleges put together are only able to produce 6,000 persons a year.
To meet the goal, the commission is required to produce up to 50,000 professionals with construction skills in the next two years.
“The commission has to create specific programmes and training courses in response to the demand, particularly in road and rail construction,” Chaipreuk said.
“Besides boosting student enrolments every academic year, the commission will also expand supply through retraining and upgrading skills. For instance, students studying in other fields such as agriculture will be encouraged to study construction, while technical workers will be offered courses to upgrade their skills.”
In terms of funding, Chaipreuk said the commission planned to propose that scholarships be included in the terms of reference in bids for the transport-infrastructure and water-management mega-projects.
The private sector will also be asked to help produce workforce by supporting on-the-job training for students. The government will also be asked to allocate a central budget for enhancing the capabilities of vocational education in terms of teachers and learning tools.
“I believe the obvious career path and high incentives will attract more students to study the construction programmes,” Chaipreuk said.
