The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Technical Education Development (SEAMEO TED) organized a Training Couse on “Programmable Logic controller (PLC1) for technical education teacher of Electricity, which was held on June 20-21, 2023 at Bavet General and Technical High School, Bavet City, Svay Rieng Province, and attended by 50 participants, most of whom are Technical Education teachers of electricity who are teaching at 10 general and technical high schools (GTHSs) in Cambodia.
Dr. Songheang Ai, director of SEAMEO TED kicked off the course by mentioning that it is a learning and sharing forum for technical education teachers as part of professional learning community members. Following up with the training needs assessment results rated by technical education teachers, some specific contents/modules were developed. He also stressed that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) set out three main goals targeting youth consisting of further studies, immediate employment right after graduation, and entrepreneurs as self-employers. TVET is a school-to-work approach enabling youth to be productive in the labor market.
The training aimed at providing PLC core competence both in theory and practice to the participants. The course covered Principle of PLC, PLC components, and Controlling system (PLC model program). The course was taught by experienced teachers with many years of experienced teaching PLC at General and Technical High School and technician working in PLC company. In addition, the course covered perspective from the industry particularly in the labour market demand and challenges through guest speakers from manufacturing industry and through site visit to PLC facility in special economic zone (SEZ) in Bavet city, Svay Rieng.
This Training Course not only provides participants with the core knowledge in PLC, but links theory with real practice with PLC equipment and on-site visits to PLC production lines in Special Economic Zone. Moreover, it also promotes linkage between public institutions and private sectors and builds up a strong network among education teachers of electricity and among all participants from all GTHSs in Cambodia.