INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE
 AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA, H.E. MR. YUSBAR DJAMIL,
AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY FOR SEAMEO VOCTECH
REGULAR TRAINING PROGRAMME ON EVALUATION OF VTET CURRICULUM
FOR RELEVANCE TO INDUSTRY

Honourable Noorhaizamdin Haji Mosbi,
Director Interim of SEAMEO Voctech
Honourable Ibu Rina Arlianti,
Course Coordinator
Distinguished Course Participants
Officers and Staff of SEAMEO Voctech
Ladies and Gentlemen:  

Assalamu’alaikum warohmatullohi wabarokatuh, 

It is a great honour that I am given the privilege to both be present here, and also to say few words on this splendid occasion of the closing ceremony for Voctech Regular Training Program on Evaluation of Vocational Technical Education and Training (VTET) Curriculum for Relevance to Industry which was held in Bandar Seri Begawan from 13-25 October 2003.  

At the outset, allow me to congratulate all participants from the ASEAN member countries that have successfully taken the two weeks VTET training program on curriculum for relevance to industry, in SEAMEO Voctech, Bandar Seri Begawan. I do believe that this training program is an  important program for, not only does it enhances human resources development and capacity building in the region, but it also prepares us to meet the challenges of the world, especially in the field of education. 

On the other hand, this 12 days-long training has generated a spirit of togetherness, and enriched solidarity and brotherhood among the trainers, and trainees from South East Asian countries. 

Distinguished Participants

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Education, as far as we know, determines the future of a nation. Meaning a nation’s success or failure very much depends on how she identifies, formulates, and applies her education system.  In today’s world education hold a very significant role, and this is especially evident in the most talked about phenomenon; which is the knowledge based economy or better known as the “K-economy”.    

In this regard, education is certainly both an asset, and also investment of a country. It is an asset, meaning that by education, variety of circumstances can be handled correctly, and applied using proper approaches. It is also an investment meaning that whatever we have learned today will help and bring great results to all sectors, whether it is the politic sector, security, socio-culture, or lastly the economic sector. It is very important that developments of education system be seriously addressed, for it helps us tremendously in facing the challenges and future of our society. 

Furthermore, the design of a curriculum is of immense value in the development of the education system; for good education can only be supported by a good quality, consistent, and stable curriculum. In other words, a curriculum that is based on the “easy to change curriculum”, philosophy, where the curriculum is easily replaced by a certain top position in the organization, is certainly bad example, for it contradicts with the established education system of designing a good curriculum. 

Distinguished Participants,  

I am certain that the Organizing Committee have brought up the many objectives of the training program, which are the following: 

·         To understand curriculum evaluation concepts and process.

·         To identify issues, and problems in conducting curriculum evaluation.

·         To develop a curriculum evaluation framework.

·         Lastly, to understand the utilisation of evaluation results, and to plan for a curriculum evaluation process.  

Now that all participants have learned, and understood these goals within the walls of SEAMEO Voctech. It is imperative that all participants apply and further develop the knowledge that they have gained here, and spread it within the boundaries of the South-East Asia region. I believe that an improved education system would bring us a greater, and better future for all South-East  Asian countries. 

I strongly believe that gatherings such as this, enable each and everyone of us to learn positive values, and expand our horizons from sharing our points of view on our curriculum knowledge with those of our ASEAN counterparts. This kind of cooperation between ASEAN member countries is of advantage for the perfection of our education system. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

To conclude, I would like to take this opportunity once again to congratulate and deeply appreciate the organizing committee of SEAMEO Voctech for all their hard work in accomplishing such a well coordinated event, and also a successfully conducted course.  

I wish you all the success and thank you. 

Billahi taufik walhidayah, wassalamu’alaikum warohmatullohi wa-barokatuh.