THE Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement will launch a new diploma course in social work at the University of Yangon on August 7.

The one-year, part-time course, the first of its kind in Myanmar, is aimed at developing human resources in the country’s social work sector.

“We have no young professional-level social workers in Myanmar,” said U Aung Than Oo, professor of psychology at the university. “Most staff working in the government and private social work sectors only have knowledge based on personal experience.”

“There are only about 20 academics in Myanmar with knowledge of social work, but they are getting older and are no longer working, so we need to develop a new generation of professionals in the field,” he said.

The course will be taught by professors from the university’s Psychology and Law departments, and by academics from the government’s Department of Social Welfare who have earned degrees from overseas universities.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is arranging for the teachers to attend short courses at overseas universities to enhance their knowledge of social work.

The course will cover psychology, legal issues relevant to social work, and issues related to child protection, orphans, disabilities, rehabilitation and nutrition.