The career training in Vietnam has grown quite strongly in recent years. The first prize in the sixth ASEAN Skills Contest held in Brunei Darussalam in September is a clear evidence for the growth in both quality and quantity in career training in Vietnam. However, these results can not disclaim the shortcomings of the human resources of the SME bloc.
Career training situation in Vietnam
At present, Vietnam has an extensive career training network in all provinces and cities, consisting of vocational schools and colleges. At this point in time, the country has nearly 250 vocational schools, more than 400 vocational centres and more than 200 vocational colleges. In addition Vietnam also has some 900 vocational service centres and continuing education centres.
Apart from the quick growth in quantity, the quality of training is also gradually upgraded. Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Le Bach Hong said the career training structure and training level structure have been considerably emphasised, especially the training of high-level workers for telecom and electronics assembly. The career training is also aimed to supply sufficient labour force for industrial zones and focal economic zones. In reality, employees in many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can operate modern machinery and equipment. Notably, Vietnamese employees can work in many fields that previously needed foreign experts and workers.
To meet the human resource of high quality for the international integration process, Vietnam is applying many policies to improve the quality of labourers through career training activities. The State Budget for this purpose has been considerably increased. 7 per cent of the total State finances for education and training in 2005 were spent on vocational training. Regarding policies, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs has issued regulations on building vocational training framework programme, 46 sets of short-termed vocational training programmes and 76 long-termed vocational training programmes for 48 popular industries. Besides, many career training schools have been invested to modernise and expand not only by State Budget’s funds but also by foreign financial sources.
Human resource in SME bloc
Nonetheless, the surveys from several sectors showed that the human resource situation in the SME block is very worrying. According to the survey in 63,000 SMEs from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, up to 55.63 per cent of business owners have educational levels of intermediate schooling downwards, including 43.3 per cent just finishing primary and secondary education. In other words, most business owners have low educational and professional levels and especially very few business owners have experienced systematic business administration training.
The market survey by the General Department of Vocational Training showed that only 23 per cent of workers in investigated enterprises have high and skilful levels; meanwhile, the rate in the SME bloc was 25 per cent. The survey also demonstrated that adaptability, cooperation and workgroup of labourers in the SME block remained low. On the other hand, skilful employees and managers also find it hard to communicate with foreign business partners as they have poor communicative skills and foreign language levels.
In terms of job creation, SMEs strongly develop in both rural areas and urban zones and they have various scales; hence, they can attract a large volume of labourers. SMEs also help reduce redundant workers after they are sacked from reshuffled State-run enterprises. However, the investigation indicators showed that the SME bloc not only face difficulties in capital and technology but also in human resources. Therefore, the training of high-level and skilful labourers for SMEs is considered a core issue in the human resource development strategy of the Vietnamese Government to improve the competitiveness in the global integration.
Mr. Hong said, in the coming time, Vietnam will develop a standardised and modernised vocational training system and focus on investing in building and upgrading vocational schools. By 2010, Vietnam will have 40 high-quality vocational training schools, including three reaching regional levels. The Government will have policies to expand training scales and modes suitable for the demand in the labour market and the expectation of labourers. At the same time, a labour market information system will be set up to provide information about the labour demand for vocational schools to have training plans to timely supply high-level labourers for specific sectors in the SME bloc.
Nguyen Thoa
Vietnamese
