‘Big shortage of qualified technical and skilled workers’

[rooster59]

‘Big shortage of qualified technical and skilled workers’

By The Nation

 

Singapore study says Thailand not keeping pace with industry needs in Auto, ICT, Tourism

 

THAILAND faces a chronic shortage of qualified technical and vocational workers across all industries, due to the challenges faced by both public and private tertiary education in keeping pace with industry demands, as well as a cultural bias towards a more academic education.

These were among key findings from a year-long study conducted by the Singapore Management University (SMU), in partnership with financial services giant JP Morgan, on the skills challenges faced by Asean economies of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

 

Full story: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30299195

 

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2016-11-05

[lostinisaan]

Currently, about 35 percent of Thai students are enrolled in vocational institutions, and of this group, a large number of graduates were not ready for industry, the study found. This suggested a need to improve the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education, especially in the face of a cultural bias against the field.

 

   Can't agree more. Our son, studying electronics in one of the superficial "technical colleges" in his third year, knows almost nothing about his field of study. It' s really a shame. 

 

  

[gchurch259]

12 minutes ago, lostinisaan said:

Currently, about 35 percent of Thai students are enrolled in vocational institutions, and of this group, a large number of graduates were not ready for industry, the study found. This suggested a need to improve the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education, especially in the face of a cultural bias against the field.

 

   Can't agree more. Our son, studying electronics in one of the superficial "technical colleges" in his third year, knows almost nothing about his field of study. It' s really a shame. 

 

  

 

12 minutes ago, lostinisaan said:

Currently, about 35 percent of Thai students are enrolled in vocational institutions, and of this group, a large number of graduates were not ready for industry, the study found. This suggested a need to improve the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education, especially in the face of a cultural bias against the field.

 

   Can't agree more. Our son, studying electronics in one of the superficial "technical colleges" in his third year, knows almost nothing about his field of study. It' s really a shame. 

 

  

 

My son is in his Senior Year at. Technical University makes A's in English and can hardly speak the language. I gave up beating over not improving, he will soon have N Electrical Engineer Degrees an can get him to understand the need. Even told him if you do not want to speak English, study a German or Japanese as that is where most of the Electical aequipmet comes from.

 

i taught English here a little while and find the Thai Students resist speaking English, even though they can write and spell correctly.

[JoePai]

These were among key findings from a year-long study

 

I think the Singapore Management University needs a little educating themselves - a year to reach this conclusion       

[lostinisaan]

9 minutes ago, gchurch259 said:

 

 

My son is in his Senior Year at. Technical University makes A's in English and can hardly speak the language. I gave up beating over not improving, he will soon have N Electrical Engineer Degrees an can get him to understand the need. Even told him if you do not want to speak English, study a German or Japanese as that is where most of the Electical aequipmet comes from.

 

i taught English here a little while and find the Thai Students resist speaking English, even though they can write and spell correctly.

 

 

 

 

Our son's pretty good at English and his teacher's always asking him if she doesn't know a word, or how to pronounce a word correctly. But that's the only subject where he's got high score.

 

      It's a waste of time and I assume such institutions only exist to get them off the roads. It doesn't make much sense to teach him German or Japanese, the business language is and will be English. 

 

 P.S. Many Thai English teachers can't speak English, so how could students be any better? And an hour per week at school doesn't help at all.

 

We usually speak English at home and very seldom Thai. But how many students got this opportunity? 

 

       

Edited November 5, 2016 by lostinisaan

[elgordo38]

55 minutes ago, lostinisaan said:

Currently, about 35 percent of Thai students are enrolled in vocational institutions, and of this group, a large number of graduates were not ready for industry, the study found. This suggested a need to improve the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education, especially in the face of a cultural bias against the field.

 

   Can't agree more. Our son, studying electronics in one of the superficial "technical colleges" in his third year, knows almost nothing about his field of study. It' s really a shame. 

 

  

Save him while the saving is still an option. To bad he could not apprentice to a real electrician or technician here. I find this hands on approach works best. It has for me over the years. 

[natway09]

After working here for 20+ years in active rolls I find it hard to believe that this story even makes the headlines 

How much did this survey cost?. All they had to do was ask!!!! Oh sorry ,,, they know everything already

[soalbundy]

what can you expect when the bricklayer is also an 'expert electrician' and auto mechanic and is a dab hand at cutting rice

[ChoakMyDee]

One need only look at the quality of plumbing, electrical etc. in the average house to see the poor standard of trades.

 

The Thais have a history of giving everyone who pays a certificate, no matter what. Obviously their vocational certificates mean nothing.

[Saradoc1972]

I gave some English course a year ago on a charitable basis at Starbucks more than a year ago, half the class had some technical qualification and apparently had ended up as servers or baristas. Probably the coffe machines and ovens need lots of maintenance ;-=

 

Any way, from what I've read Germany has signed some agreement with the Thai government that they will help them set up the German system of apprenticeship and dual education for technical jobs. http://www.bangkok.diplo.de/Vertretung/bangkok/de/__pr/161012-Absichtserklaerung-Duale-Ausbildung-Thailand.html?archive=4103744

[DoctorG]

Apprenticeship coupled with college classes is the best way to go (IMO) but it would be next to impossible to find enough really qualified craftsmen in Thailand to mentor the students.

[overherebc]

24 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Apprenticeship coupled with college classes is the best way to go (IMO) but it would be next to impossible to find enough really qualified craftsmen in Thailand to mentor the students.

 

An interesting point. For me, with Babcocks in UK it meant 3 months work/two months college for 3 years. At the the end you had work experience and in depth knowledge of what your job actually was and you could do the job you were being paid to do.

IMO it's really the best way to go but the history of the system was long term in UK and could not be set up here in Thailand overnight.

Edited November 5, 2016 by overherebc
spelin ???

[Sydebolle]

No government in the past had a real interest in the educational aspect of their electorate.

It is much easier to take uneducated voters for a big ride on the political merry-go-round; all this for short term profit and takings by those in charge.

Thailand will be paying a very, very high price for this and obviously has already lost the race. 

If you throw out all those useless books and American education system and replace also all the teachers with qualified pedagogically trained staff - it will still take one to two generations for the results to show. Regretfully Thailand does not have that time anymore and will have to import more qualified staff. Under the AEC2015 technically possible but made impossible by the Thai bureaucracy, corruption and nepotism all over the place.

My advice = don't start business here; take your investment elsewhere. 

[Saradoc1972]

German system ("dual education", not to be confused with "dual system", that's for garbage separation) means 3 days of actually working full-time under supervision, 2 days of classes at vocational school, which would count as a college in Anglo-Saxon countries. Difficulty varies with what you are doing, anything from being an office-girl or shop assistant over being a banker to being an electrician or running factory equipment. So does being let off the leash to do actual work on your own. Has been abused, when boys get apprenticed at garages just in time for tire-changing season, to then get laid off, but that is usually for the type that would not have got a real job anyway.

[silent]

1 hour ago, elgordo38 said:

Save him while the saving is still an option. To bad he could not apprentice to a real electrician or technician here. I find this hands on approach works best. It has for me over the years. 

Completely agree and It is for leaning English too. Something like the way you, I and every other English speaker managed to half master it better than the average University graduate here and long before learning spelling and grammar rules. Why and how was because it was "hands on and learning how to speak the words made a lot more than putting  carts before the horses. I think they'd be shocked if they went to North America and actually tested a number of skilled workers in vocations that can butcher the English language almost better than some Thais, but literate enough without wasting their time learning things that in reality are superfluous.

[monkey4u]

2 hours ago, soalbundy said:

what can you expect when the bricklayer is also an 'expert electrician' and auto mechanic and is a dab hand at cutting rice

Lets hope he is not the doctor also

[weegee]

2 hours ago, DoctorG said:

Apprenticeship coupled with college classes is the best way to go (IMO) but it would be next to impossible to find enough really qualified craftsmen in Thailand to mentor the students.

 

I agree with you on qualified Craftsmen.....BUT they are here, hundreds of experienced Expats who would probably love to tutor an apprentice and help these kids achieve something....BUT (again)...We are NOT ALLOWED to help them even voluntarily...

It's crazy as i look around and see Fully Qualified Expats who have retired and done it all in their field of whatever, just to be told, NO WAY, you cant do, and they just sit around forgetting 50 odd years of experience....What an opportunity for Thailand going down the open drains.

[puipuitom]

I do business with Thailand since 1990 in foods. Till now I did not met one single Thai - except at some Universities - who had any understanding of food safety, risk analyses, of whatever in these fields. Their skill ends with holding up a certificate, but ... where it stands for / what is needed, and WHY ? ?  ZERO knowledge but also ZERO interest. Often even their "food safety specialist" is a hired in person for 1 day before, one day after and 2-3 days during the certification audit. Their own QC staff  hardly understands any English at all.

At a big rice mill even nobody had any idea about microbiological properties. "Oh, too small to see", was the comment after explanation what that meant.

I therefore prefer Sri Lanka, India, and Vietnam as suppliers.

[Bule gila]

Well done Singapore. You have come last in this year's Ignobel prize for 'Stating the blindingly bloody obvious'.

Where there's corruption, there's 'free' certificates, 'free' tests, 'free' whatever you want - all for a price. Try going to Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan or any bloody stan, not to mention Indonesia [oops I mentioned it].

[scoutman360]

When Thailand starts to hire foreigners that have the qualifications they need, then I will believe there is a shortage. I have worked here in a highly technical field for 10 years, and I can tell you that there is no shortage, as far as they are concerned. They will hire an incompetent local person over a highly qualified foreigner every time. If I lost my job today, no one here will look at my resume.

[petermik]

The blind are leading the blind.....

[jonw8uk]

and this is why Ive seen job ads for instrument techs here asking for a PHD..! A f**king PHD to be a maintenance tech!

[pattayalover]

I worked in thailand and I can tell you they have 0 standard for safety . I can tell you in one day at my work place who is going to die or live or be hurt.

and if you talk to them, they make fun of you. safety doesn't exist in Thailand. just look at how they drive.

[RaoulDuke]

Hardly a problem that is unique to Thailand. This seems to be the case all over the world, as very few people are interested in the blue collar jobs that keep everything that most people take for granted running and working properly. In California, we cannot fill government jobs that pay close (and sometimes over) $100k/year, plus $15k worth of benefits,  due to a lack of applicants. Among the few qualified candidates that do show up for interviews, 50% turn the job down.

 

Perhaps eventually, someone will develop AI that makes blue collar workers redundant. In the meanwhile, it is probably one of the most in-demand and technology-proof (i.e. automation and off-shoring) areas to seek employment. But good luck finding people willing to work with their hands and get dirty. A university education is a great thing, but the reality is that there are far more people seeking an easy desk job than there are easy desk jobs to be had. 

 

While the ability to read English would be a benefit for some materials and products that are manufactured overseas, speaking English is really irrelevant for blue collar workers in Thailand.

Edited November 5, 2016 by RaoulDuke

[bokningar]

7 hours ago, Bule gila said:

Where there's corruption, there's 'free' certificates, 'free' tests, 'free' whatever you want - all for a price

Free for a price ??? 

 

[jerojero]

Wonder how the PM will spin this? Singapore is respected Asia neighbor country, so can't discount the report.

[yellowboat]

The pitfalls of having a malleable, compliant, under educated workforce.   Easy to control, but hard for them to do anything worth while.  Sadly, this is happening in most countries including the US and most of Europe. 

[Khon Kaen Dave]

I was told that in the resort 7/11's the staff have to be able to converse in basic English.

[soalbundy]

5 hours ago, yellowboat said:

The pitfalls of having a malleable, compliant, under educated workforce.   Easy to control, but hard for them to do anything worth while.  Sadly, this is happening in most countries including the US and most of Europe. 

I don't know about the US but i think you can strike out 'most of Europe'

[soalbundy]

3 minutes ago, Khon Kaen Dave said:

I was told that in the resort 7/11's the staff have to be able to converse in basic English.

I live out in the sticks but in the small market town near me the staff at 7/11 do try to speak English with me even though i speak Thai. The boss of the post office wants to visit me once a week to practice speaking English and a bank teller at the Bangkok bank has asked me to drop in often just to speak English with him so i do see a desire to improve.