On July 15, 2024, the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, assigned the Labour Minister’s Advisor, Mr. Thanat Thaweekueakulkit to preside over the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on skill development between the Department of Skills Development’s Director-General, Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, and the Vice President of the Network of Private Islamic Schools in the Southern Border Provinces, Mr. Muhammad Nasiruddin Lehnu. The Department of Skills Development’s Inspector-General, Mr. Chatwut Thongkan, and the President of the Private Islamic Schools Association, Narathiwat Province, Mr. Masukree Cheede, signed as witnesses. The Chairman of the Labour Minister’s Working Group, Mr. Najmuddin Umar, along with the Ministry of Labour’s executive team, also participated in the signing ceremony at the Bang Nara meeting room, Narathiwat Skill Development Institute 25.
The Advisor to the Labour Minister, Mr. Thanat Thaweekueakulkit, shared that he was pleased and honoured that the Labour Minister, Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, assigned him to preside over the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labour’s Department of Skill Development and a network of private Islamic schools in the southern border provinces. This is in line with the policy of the government and the Ministry of Labour that promotes cooperation in producing manpower in the educational and labour sectors, as well as developing the country to move forward with the new generation of workers. The goal is to develop skills for the workforce and youths in the five southern border provinces, namely Narathiwat, Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, and Satun, which will be an important force for the country in the future. They will have the knowledge, ability, and higher skills to meet labour standards, and to pursue a career to generate income for themself and their family to improve their quality of life and play an important part in the development of society and communities in the area.
The Department of Skills Development’s Director-General, Ms. Bubpha Rueangsud, said that cooperation reinforces the mission of the Department of Skill Development, which places importance on cooperation with the government, private sector, and educational institutions in developing the workforce’s skills. The scope includes all genders, ages, and professional fields to help them be ready to become a quality workforce with standards. The two agencies worked together to develop various professional skills in the five southern border provinces. The emphasis is on career fields that are in demand for business establishments and independent occupations, such as courses for small air conditioning technicians, welding, motorcycle mechanics, industrial sewing machines, Thai cooking, and baking. The pilot training course for electrical wiring technicians in buildings under the project to enhance vocational skills for students who do not continue their studies after completing compulsory education in 2024 began with the first batch of training participants between May 21 and July 26, 2024 (2 months). There were 24 youths who received training at the Samphan Witthaya School, Cho Airong District, Narathiwat Province. The program received good cooperation from local agencies, making it more accessible to the target group. She thanked the network of private Islamic schools in the southern border provinces for this cooperation.
