1.6 Human Resource Development

People are always regarded as the wealth of a nation. Effective development of human resources, therefore, is a prerequisite for economic growth and improved quality of Life. The positive contribution of education of the people most particularly of the labour force to economic achievement and social welfare has been proven beyond any doubt. Hence, investment in education results in a more educated labour force which, in turn, is capable of increasing an economy's output of goods and services. As mentioned recently, Myanmar adopted a liberalized economic policy in the form of market-oriented economic system generating a host of very active economic enterprises. The demands for trained manpower are increased dramatically both in quantitative and qualitative terms. However, Myanmar, in many ways, still remains, predominantly an agricultural society. With more mechanized farming and systematic planning for better production of crops and vegetables, increased labour absorption is expected in the industrial and services sectors which will eventually require trained personnel in the high technology areas to achieve economic modernization of the country.

These situations have created an environment in which planning for education requires the right balance between training for the manufacturing sector and the service sector. The estimated manpower in the recent years also shows that about 65 per cent of the labour force is unskilled and 11 per cent is semi-skilled (Khin Maung Win, 1993) indicating a strong demand for in-service training and retraining as well as for more widespread and effective pre-service training. In reaching these requirements, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a specialized form of human resource development that enable individuals to develop skills needed for productive employment in specific occupations. Thus, it is envisaged that TVET will continue to play a major role in the development of human resources for the country's economic growth and social welfare.