Focus on classifying vocational training

​According to report of provincial Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the province recruited and trained an annual average of 50,000 to 55,000 labors (the majority are teenagers). It was a step-by-step increase of the proportion of workforce with vocational degree from 41 percent (in 2009) to 46,1% (at the end of 2013). However, it did not fulfill objectives of Plan 96-KH/TU of Communist Party’s Committee on implementing Resolution no 25-NQ/TW of 10th Central Committee of Vietnam Communist Party on youth activities in the modernization and industrialization context. 

Fulfillment of two thirds of vocational training objectives 

Plan 96 of Communist Party’s Committee shows that “By 2010, 70 percent of working- age adults in enterprises will have vocational training, of which 30 percent will have intermediate vocational education and 20 percent will have college or vocational degree; and 60 percent of adolescents will have jobs after vocational training.”

Mr. Huynh Van Tinh, Head of the Mass Mobilization of Provincial Communist Party’s Committee said that: “During the past five years, more than 308,000 people, mainly teenagers have received vocational training. Of which, 56,000 people have had college degrees, or vocational diploma at primary and intermediate level, raising the rate of trained workforce to 46 percent, only two third fulfillment of provincial objective of 60 percent.  

The province doled out 294 billion VND in its budget to upgrade infrastructure and teaching equipments for vocational education, with 114 billion VND invested in construction and equipments for 26-03 Vocational Training School under Dong Nai Union Province. The province spent 15 billion VND to support 3,100 demobilized soldiers with tuition fee for vocational education; provided vocational training and got job for more than 16,000 young people in rural area. 

With the aims of supporting and creating motivation for the youth to be vocationally trained and self-employed, the provincial Union, Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs coordinated with provincial Bank for social policies lent more than 90 billion VND to the youth. And their efforts to support vocational training have partly contributed to create employment for over 328 thousand of teenagers. 

Employment creation to raise the youth income does not meet with teenagers’ capacity and demand for vocational education, particularly people in disadvantaged areas, remote areas where there is low rate of vocational training for increase in income. 

Inequality in mechanism

Mr. Pham Van Cong, Deputy Director of Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stated that pursuant to Plan 96-KH/TU, the objective of 60 percent people of vocational training is not fulfilled due to ineffective categorization of secondary and high school graduates. 

On the one hand, although the Party and State have paid attention to vocational training, there is lack of deep awareness of the society and young people on vocational education. Most of pupils target passing exams and studying at university. On the other hand, vocational training is in difficulties because many universities have opened with various branches of study. 

According to Mr. Cong, mechanism and policy in vocational training is not equal enough to appeal the students to study in vocational training school and centers. For example, the Decree no. 49 by the government regulates that: Secondary school Graduates receive 50% exemption and deduction in tuition fee for vocational training, but high school graduates are not free from tuition fee unless they are children of those who rendered services to the revolution, of ethnic and poor households. Therefore, it has not encouraged high school graduates to receive vocational training. 

Besides that, specific mechanism and policy connecting enterprises with vocational training schools or centers have not been issued in a united way from the central to local level. They include supporting vocational training, retraining, creating or adjusting training program in accordance with production technology; and supporting young trainees in enterprises. 

Practical solutions

Mrs. Phi Thi Hoi, Deputy Chairwoman of Xuan Loc People’s Committee said that the district collaborated with relevant divisions to consult, train and suggest jobs for over 12,800 teenagers (9,400 people with stable employment). Leaders of Xuan Loc District are concerned about linking vocational training for jobs creation with support for the youth to borrow money. Up to now, six unions has accepted and managed 19 lending agencies worth over 11 billion VND to assist loans for hundreds of teenagers, to increase their income, and to create many excellent business models. 

According to Mr. Dinh Tan Hai, Secretary of the Communist Party Committee and Chairman of People's Committee of Binh Hoa Commune (Vinh Cuu district), the youth will be raised awareness of career education and other choices in life, not only the university gate so that they can receive effective training program, permanent occupations and income. The whole political system, especially Union organizations must play a leading role to fulfill this mission. 

Deputy Director Mr. Pham Van Cong of Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs stressed that: Labor Department should coordinate closely with Department of Education and Training to categorize learners under Instruction no.10 by Ministry of Politics. Particularly, learners of working age in rural areas should register for vocational training to avoid waste of workforce in society and families. In addition, it is necessary to have diploma programs and to classify vocational education.  

Vocational training centers should be improved their management systems, update of training program and curriculum, investment of infrastructure and equipments in relation to innovative production technology from businesses. 

Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is proposing competent authorities to generate mechanisms and policies to encourage investment in vocational training. For instance, preferential land use or lease for schools and vocational training centers; tax exemption or deduction for development of vocational schools or centers in enterprises or outside; information update on human resources. A full implementation of multiple solutions will produce efficiency and accomplish the objective of vocational education for the youth.