Vocational Training: Improvement in Both Quality and Quantity

In recent years, especially after the enforcement of Resolution 2 of the Party Plenum (VII tenure) on education, training, science and technology, vocational training in Vietnam has made big progress.

 

First, the enrollment of training schools has increased 3.2 times, with 5.4 times in secondary and high levels, and 12.7 times the number in 1993. As a result, trained workers increased from 10 % in 1997 to 23 % in 2007, changing the %age between vocational training and university education and ensuring more balanced workforce for business activities and education.

 

Presently, the vocational training comprises of three standards (high, secondary and primary). The training is more and more balanced with the demand of industries and labour market. The number of training schools increased 2.3 times, training centres 4.7 times together with thousands of businesses participating in training. The training network has fast developed with the planning, diversified in forms and ownership. In particular, it puts an end to the absence of training schools in 27 provinces and training centres in 40 provinces.

 

The teaching staff also increased in quantity and quality. 48 frame curriculums have been issued for secondary and high levels. In 2008, 60 more frame curriculums were developed by advanced methods. Facilities and equipment have been upgraded in 50 % of training schools and centres, especially ODA recipients.

 

The quality and efficiency of the training have been improved with 70 % of trainees employed or creating their own jobs. In some training centres, it is even at 90 %. Working style and discipline have been upgraded and the standards of trainees meet the demand of labour market.

 

Vietnamese trainees have participated in regional and international competitions and won most encouraging achievements (Second position in ASEAN 4^th competition in 2002, and two successive First positions in 2004 and 2006). It proves the training quality in Vietnam compared with the region and approaching gradually international standard.

 

In the past 10 years, the authorities concerned have drafted and approved legal instruments and policy on vocational training. It is now almost completed and Vocational training law with guidance can be applied in all three levels.

In spite of such development, the number of training establishments remains small (over 50 % of districts and towns are without training services). The training scale is small, failing to meet the demand, especially in rural and mountainous areas. Progress is still slow in training schools to reach regional and international standards. New training schools are without efficient teaching staff.

 

Though awareness of vocational training has been upgraded, many provinces, cities and related ministries fail to realize the importance of the technical training as vital to success and sustainable socio-economic development. They often refer to human resources development in general without focusing on vocational training, investment of facilities, equipment and land for its development.

 

So far, policy and mechanism of vocational training are still lagging behind the transition to a market economy. The salary scale of teaching staff remain inadequate. Policy and mechanaism fail to encourage training businesses especially on credits, land, income tax and on-the-job training. Moreover, training establishments are slow to be self-sustained and State budget and investment fail to match the size and quality of the training.

 

The cooperation between training establishments and businesses remain weak. Many businesses and employers fail to realize their responsibility and interest in the training.

 

Promotion and consulting on vocational training must be improved to increase public awareness and especially that of secondary and high school students to consider vocational training as a suitable job for their capacity and conditions.

 

With the achievements of the past 10 years and Party and State policy on vocational training in coming years to meet the demand of domestic labour market and export, the vocational training will eventually approach regional and international standards, increasing the competitivess of Vietnamese workforce in international integration. MOLISA has submitted to the Prime Minister new project on vocational training until 2015, trying to increase 10 % of training establishments in 2010 and ensure the training of one million rural workers a year. By 2010, trained workers will make up 30-32 % of the workforce, increasing the trained workers to 50 %. The training network will have 120 high schools. 250 secondary and at least a training centre for each district. Training establishments will be developed at businesses and craft villages.

 

In addition, 200 frame programmes of high schools and 220 of secondary schools will be issued together with those of primary and on-the-job trainings. 5,000 new teachers will be trained. 5 % of teachers and students will be upgraded. In particular, 50 high training schools and 50 secondary schools will be evaluated on teaching quality, 50 sets of national standards will be developed and certificates will be granted to skilled workers.

 

In 2011-2015, the vocational training will increase 7 % a year, training 1.1 million rural workers a year. By 2015, trained workers will make up 42-45 % increasing the total figure to 60-65 %. The training network will be with 200 vocational colleges, 300 intermediates and a number of industrial colleges transformed from key high schools. 15,000 new teachers will be trained and the ratio of upgraded teachers and students will be 1/17. All high and secondary schools together 50 % of training centres will be evaluated on quality. 200 sets of training programmes will be issued and certificates will granted to skilled workers.

 

To attain those objectives, MOLISA will focus on the following solutions: Complete transformation of training policy and mechanism; Development of network of training establishments and teachers; Transformation of State management on vocational training; International integration on vocational training.