Southeast Asia Youths should invest more in personal education, whether in formal educations or soft-skill training. Accordingly, this is to answer the overwhelming needs of specified skilled workers in the future.
Especially, in embracing Industry 4.0, there will be an upcoming huge transformation in the near future. Therefore, Southeast Asia education becomes essential. Besides the, not subliminal, advanced understanding of digital technology, youths should also possess skills regarding critical thinking, lifelong learning, as well as problem-solving and applied skills.
Among the needs, workers with a qualification at least a bachelor’s degree, or above, are badly required. Also, technical workers with vocational skills are also the utmost priority.
However, the International Labor Organization describes the region as lacking the necessity experts. Additionally, this is due to reasons such as, but not limited to, education inequality, minimum awareness, out-of-date training and education, and employment shortage.
Regarding the necessity, this becomes homework for the governments, educational institutions, as well as companies to solve. Regardless, Southeast Asian youths should also be proactive in investing in their personal education.
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Education to Address the Needs of Southeast Asia
To address the above-mentioned needs, education will indubitably play an immense role. For example, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) programs should be an utter priority.
Without the necessary awareness and decent implementation, the region will not be able to provide the needs that believably will take place in the near 2023. If and only if that happened, the region would most likely ‘import’ overseas laborers.
Thailand, for instance, is in dire need of skilled laborers to support its Thailand 4.0 program. The program, scheduled to take effect in 2021, requires skilled workers in which the country is currently lacking.
Malaysia, which arguably is more confident with its graduates, is currently trying to address the issue. Reportedly, Malaysia is opening various new job opportunities throughout the country to cultivate workers.
Even Singapore requires to generate more skilled workers to supply its needs. Accordingly, professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs) have become this year’s priority for the country.
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