| Danial Norjidi |
WITH the rapid interchange of information around the globe, the delivery and assessment of education and training has been affected significantly, while the need to prepare students with 21st Century skills has gained great emphasis.
These were among the points highlighted in a speech during the closing ceremony of a training programme on ‘Learning and Course Management Systems for Best Classroom Technology Integration’ on January 25, at the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (Voctech).
SEAMEO Voctech Centre Director Dr Haji Mohd Zamri bin Haji Sabli said, “The 21st Century is characterised by the rapid information interchange across the globe, and this greatly affects the way education and training is delivered and accessed.
“This, of course, necessitates the teachers or educators to keep abreast with the relevant technology, which they innovatively have to apply to attract and engage the new generation of students who are tech-savvy and exposed to the vast information resources readily available and accessible on the Internet.
“In the field of education across the Southeast Asian region, there exist the rising expectations and global challenges of the 21st Century, where the need to equip students and prospective employees with the 21st Century skills, particularly digital literacy, has been gaining great emphasis.”
Dr Haji Mohd Zamri affirmed that for contemporary students and employees to succeed, they should be able to cope confidently with the needs and demands of daily life within a technological and information-rich society.
“The need for ICT and vocational training in 21st Century empowerment, therefore, is not a matter reserved for developing regions alone, but is an objective by all member-countries, both developed and developing, and is one that will require a collective global effort if we are to succeed in addressing this challenge,” he said.
“In this regard, and true to its mandate, I am pleased to say that for the past 28 years, SEAMEO Voctech has continuously provided and partnered with the governments and people of Southeast Asia to bring about sustainable development in education and especially in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).”
Addressing the participants of the training programme, he noted that technology is changing every single minute, and that new innovations are created to make work easier.
“In almost every sector, you can see different methods being used and new equipment being developed,” he said.
“In schools, colleges, organisations, a Learning Management System (LMS) is integrated and implemented in the classroom to deliver curriculum, access the course details, progress reports, training on technological development and many others.
“In your efforts to face and overcome these global challenges, your being part of the TVET systems requires you to provide your students with more than just the knowledge and skills to succeed; you must provide the tools to allow them to use and apply these knowledge and skills, as well as the tools to enable them to successfully navigate and become productive, effective and integral members of society,” he added.