THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Education Ministry spends Bt10m to study labour market

Education Ministry spends Bt10m to study labour market

THE government has decided to spend Bt10 million on a study to pinpoint the labour market’s needs, boost employment and find a way to help youngsters choose a suitable career path.

Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin said this week that he had held discussions with the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) about conducting a survey on labour market demand, which the ministry will sponsor with Bt10 million via the Office for Educational Technology Development Fund (EdTech Fund).
“The survey will look into the employment sector, what positions are in demand, what skills each job requires so educational institutes – especially those under the Office of Basic Education Commission [Obec] – can adapt their training accordingly,” Teerakiat said.

Passing on knowledge
TDRI has already conducted an initial study, which Teerakiat said he would hand over to related agencies such as Obec, OHEC and the Office of the Vocational Education Commission for analysis and development, so they can later pass on to students.
“Students will be better equipped to plan their future careers and teachers will be able to prepare related lessons,” he added. 
Obec chief Boonrak Yodphetch said his agency will benefit the most from this TDRI study, as secondary students will know what jobs are high in demand and what skills are needed for the jobs they want to pursue. 
Knowledge gleaned from this study will be passed on to educational service area offices, school directors as well as to vocational guidance and classroom teachers, he said. 
“From the TDRI findings so far, [we know that] one fourth of jobs up for grabs no longer asked about educational background, but require job experience and skills,” Boonrak said.
He added that the ministry has also assigned Obec to see if any skill-boosting short-term training courses can be provided to secondary students, so as to help them better choose part-time jobs during school vacations and better land on their feet after graduation.

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