DILI, 23 october 2023 (TATOLI) – SEAMEO VOCTECH (SV) expressed commitment to support improving Timor-Leste’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to meet global standards.
SEAMEO VOCTECH’s Center Director Alias Hj Abu Bakar expressed the commitment at the 34th SEAMEO VOCTECH Governing Board Meeting and 1st Timor-Leste International Skills Week hosted by the Timor-Leste Education Ministry in collaboration with the National Institute for Labour Force Development (INDIMO).
SEAMEO VOCTECH was established as a Regional Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on August 28, 1990. This founding was the result of the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and the Government of Brunei Darussalam.
Now, SV is one among the 27 SEAMEO Centers and network of SEAMEO and continues to stand tall among these centers.
“In the effort to enhance the skills of our workforce in the post-pandemic era and for SEAMEO VOCTECH to achieve its Five-Year Development Plan in “Preparing TVET for Industry 4.0,” SEAMEO VOCTECH continues to strengthen its services to support TVET trainers and academics in SEAMEO Member countries and beyond to identify and solve common problems in TVET through training development initiatives, research consultancies and capacity building for TVET teachers by integrating competency and 21st-century skills in TVET, and distribution of information and knowledge in the region as required in the new age,” said in a statement.
SEAMEO VOCTECH aimed to take charge in preparing TVET for Industry 4.0 and fostering a skilled workforce that is future-ready, together with our SEAMEO member countries, partners, and TVET teachers and trainers in the region and beyond.
SEAMEO VOCTECH Centre Director Alias Hj Abu Bakar said that SEAMEO VOCTECH will support Timor-Leste to improve TVET in the country: “We want to improve the TVET system in Timor-Leste to raise standards that will be very equivalent to other TVET centers among ASEAN countries.”
“We hope that this will allow Timor-Leste’s workforce to work overseas, especially in ASEAN countries. It will also support Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN,” said Abu Bakar. “We, at SV commit ourselves to achieving our mandate to strengthen and improve the quality of TVET in Southeast Asia through human resource development.”
He said that improving the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is key to meeting skills and labor mismatch.
In his speech at the SEAMEO VOCTECH Governing Board Meeting, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay said that the collaboration between SEAMEO VOCTECH, the Ministry of Education, and INDIMO is crucial for the development of Timor-Leste’s human resources.
Minister Lay expressed his deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Education and INDIMO for organizing such a great event.
He said that improving human resource skills is important, as it is part of the roadmap criteria for Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN.
INDIMO has been working closely with SEAMEO VOCTECH on a consultancy project on reviewing, updating, and developing the identified TVET quality control manuals produced by INDIMO as the official Timor-Leste qualifications authority.
INDIMO has been working closely with SEAMEO VOCTECH on a consultancy project in reviewing, updating, and developing the identified TVET quality control manuals produced by INDIMO as the official Timor-Leste qualifications authority.
The aim of the consultancy project is to revise and update the current Competency Standards Development Manual, revise and update the Operational License and Accreditation Manual, develop a new Certification, Recognition, and Equalization of Competency; and Build INDIMO’s Institutional capability.
At the event, SEAMEO VOCTECH, the Education Ministry, and INDIMO jointly handed over the Quality Control Manual to TVET in Timor-Leste, including the Don Bosco Training Center, Becora Training Center, and so on.
TVET representatives from the 10 ASEAN member countries also took part in the SEAMEO VOCTECH Governing Board meeting.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
