Vietnam is expected to need VND41.3 trillion (US$2.29 billion) for a plan to enhance its vocational training from now through 2020.
Under the plan, vocational training will focus on learning from the experiences of foreign countries, while increasing the number of foreign diplomas and certificates recognized, The Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, said at an online Government conference on the issue held in Hanoi on August 6.
Investment policy in vocational training will be geared toward the hi-tech sector as the top priority, and the policy will spearhead high-quality, specialized careers to serve the demands of each region’s markets. In addition, non-state schools will be provided with preferential loans, receive development funding and join in competitive bidding on state orders, says the proposal.
Vocational curricula will be revamped to meet market demands and to increase the involvement of businesses. In addition to supplying a number of foreign vocational programs, a training program for experimental engineers will also be devised.
The plan will be presented to the government at next month’s regular cabinet meeting for approval.
Vietnam intends to provide vocational training to more than 24 million people by 2020 and to bring the rate of trained workers to 55 per cent.
The country is now home to 306 vocational colleges and schools which have enrolled more than 1.5 million students. That figure, however, has failed to meet market demand. The rate of trained workers only reached 26.5 per cent in 2008.
According to the World Bank’s assessment, the quality of Vietnam’s human resources ranks 11th among 12 participating Asian nations, and none of its vocational schools offer high-quality training that meets regional and global standards. (Vietnam Economic Times, VNA)
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