SINCE 2012, when MOE has undertaken nationwide Comprehensive Education Sector Review (CESR), TVET has been one of the six focal points. Additionally, inside National Education Strategic Plan (NESP) 2016-2021, under TVET sector, it was stated that high quality technical and vocational education and training (TVET) that equips Myanmar’s economy with a skilled and competitive workforce is vital for sustainable socio-economic development. The bilateral collaboration between the Republic of Korea and Government of the Union of Myanmar in TVET sector was further enhanced during State Counsellor visit to Korea for 30th Anniversary ASEAN-ROK where the State Counsellor and the President Moon Jae-In witnessed the signing of an MOU focusing on cooperation in TVET Sector.
Korea-Myanmar TVET Teacher Training Institute, KMTTTI, an ODA project output between the Korean and Myanmar Governments, plans to fulfill the Myanmar’s economy with its demanding needs by de veloping workforce in alignment with NESP Strategy (2) and (3) which focus on strengthening the quality and relevance of TTTI and the Management of TVET. With the desire to become the model and multiplication center of the demand-oriented TVET in 5 years after its opening, KMTTTI has set up two objectives to achieve. The first objective is to upgrade the teaching competencies of technical teachers in TVET sector. The second object is to improve the existing technicians’ capacities so that they become proficient in meeting the labor market-needs by training through operation of the subsidiary GTI under KMTTTI.
In order to achieve its objectives and deliver the effective results, systematic composition of KMTTTI has been laid out precisely with four main centers: Teachers Training Centre, Research and Development Centre, Industrial Cooperation Centre and the Model GTI.
The groundbreaking ceremony of KMTTI was held in 2018 May with the attendance of Union Minister for Education, the Am bassador of the Republic of Korea, Chief Representative of KOICA Myanmar Office, and other highly distinguished guests. After half a decade cooperation between the Government of Myanmar and Korea, KMTTTI will come into alive with its soft opening expected to be held in October 2020 before its Model GTI commences its function in early 2021. As State Counsellor urges the promotion of technical vocational education in Myanmar as she mentioned “Vocational education is a first-class education and only when vocational education is developed in the country will there be better livelihoods for citizens”, KMTTTI will strive to become one of the state-of-the-art institute in TVET education sector by nurturing well-trained and highly-skilled technicians that will contribute to the sustainable economic growth.
In addition to KMTTTI (Formal TVET Education), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has made previous collaborations with Ministry of Industry in supporting two of Industrial Training Centres (Non-Formal TVET Education), which are Magway and Thargaya Industrial Training Centers. In Basic Education sector, KOICA has also provided a total of 100 school buses with the purpose of enabling easy access to Schools in Nay Pyi Taw area.
Last but not the least, as education is one of KOICA’s top priorities in development cooperation with the Myanmar Government, KOICA will continue to enhance its collaboration ties with the Ministry of Education and also to expand the range of supports from the TVET into the Higher Education sector.
By KOICA Myanmar
