the workshop “Evaluating Vocational training development strategy and the project of vocational training innovation, development of vocational training as part of national target program during period 2011-2015; discussing the direction and responsibility during period 2016-2020”. The importance of vocational training in supply of human resource for national development in upcoming period is becoming increasingly recognized as the common ASEAN community is about to take shape, the workshop draws many leaders from the Departments of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs, vocational colleges, secondary vocational schools, vocational centers…in the North.

Contributing to the supply of human resource for socio-economic development


Delivering a speech at opening ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Duong Duc Lan, Director General of General Directorate of Vocational Training reviewed significant milestones after Vocational training development strategy during period 2011-2015 was approved by the Prime Minister in the Decision No 630/QĐ-TTg dated 29/5/2012. “Though vocational training still faced some difficulties during recent two years, especially for student enrollment but generally, under the direction of National Assembly, Government, Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs, the coordination with the ministries, sectors, localities, vocational training institution have involved dramatically compared to before the Decision 630 was implemented.

Presenting a brief report of Vocational Training Development Strategy after 5 years, Dr. Nguyen Hong Minh, Deputy Director General of General Directorate of Vocational Training said: Student recruitment activity and the rate of trained laborer,  development of vocational institution network; development of vocational teachers, managerial staff; facilities for vocational training development have all made major step creating solid platform for next period. More specifically, by the end of 2015, the rate of trained laborers at all level from vocational college, vocational secondary school, vocational primary school and vocational training with duration of under 3 months (including full-time vocational training, continuous vocational training that are held at vocational training institutions, educational institutions involving in vocational training, enterprises, craft villages…is 38.5%. Wherein, trained laborers at vocational college, vocational secondary school and vocational primary school level is 25%, vocational training with duration under 3 months is 13.5%, during this period the rate of trained laborers increased by 18.5% compared to year 2010, almost achieved the objective set by Vocational training development strategy (which is 96.2%). Beside completion of vocational training institution network, the increase in number of vocational institutions across the country to 1,467 which includes 190 vocational colleges (reach 100%) of which ratio of non-public institution is 80%, 280 vocational secondary schools and 997 vocational centers, and more than 1,000 other institutions involve in vocational training….
Along with the development of vocational institution network, General Directorate of Vocational Training has selected 40 vocational schools that will in priority for investment to become high quality vocational schools, capable of providing vocational training according to the standard recognized by advanced countries in the region and the world; submit to the Prime Minister for approval of 26 international-level occupations, 34 ASEAN-level occupations and 100 national-level occupations….The number of teachers at vocational training institutions reaches 40,000 by the end of 2014,  a rise of 23% compared to the year 2010, 100% teachers attain professional standard in accordance with the objective set by Vocational training development strategy…
Review, creativity, flexibility in training
Concurring with the accomplishments achieved during 5 years implementing Vocational training development strategy; the effectiveness of the project “Innovation and development of vocational training” as part of National Target Program on employment and vocational training during period 2011-2015. The deans of several vocational colleges, vocational secondary schools, vocational centers at localities have explicitly pointed out some problems for clearing the “bottleneck” in student recruitment, promoting orientation of high school graduates into vocational training, especially after the Law on vocational education comes into effect since 1/7/2015.
The dean of Hue Tourism Vocational college (Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism) Vu Hai Phuong said: after gaining success during initial stage implementing Vocational training development strategy, training methods, curriculum, teaching equipment, especially for theoretical and practical learning shall be adjusted for adaptation with actual social needs…Responding to this, Assoc. Prof. Duong Duc Lan stressed: “Law on vocational education that was created to replace Law on Vocational training (promulgated in 2006) , always encourages the schools to be pro-active in constructing vocational training framework in accordance with national qualification framework (with 8 levels) appropriate with ASEAN standard, approaching global standard. What is more important is how the quality of vocational students being able to satisfy the needs of enterprises…”
Responding to the concern made by Dr. Khieu Huu Trien, the dean of VMU vocational college, on orienting secondary school, high school graduates into vocational schools. Director General Duong Duc Lam shared: This can directly affects student recruitment of the schools, vocational institutions. The Party has issued 2 directives 10 and 37/CT-TW on orienting, encouraging high school students into vocational training. However, the orientation activity is actually not quite effective, there are still small number of students opting for vocational training, orienting students into university remains predominant social psychology.
Director of Department of Education-Training and Vocational Training (Central Propaganda Committee) Nguyen Dac Hung said: In term of instruction, the number of documents, directives are beyond sufficient, the underlying problem is implementation”. In 2016, the implementation of this direction during 5 years period will be summarized, local government, central bodies at locality shall take this seriously, only that can the problem “lacking skilled workers while teachers are in excess” be addressed”- Mr Hung said.
“In 2016, General Directorate of Vocational Training will continue to thoroughly review all vocational schools, institutions across the country, including 45 vocational schools that are in priority for government investment. The objective is to increase the quality from student recruitment, to training, vocational secondary schools, vocational colleges that are operating inefficiently will be merged, or converted to avoid the waste of resources…” Assoc. Prof. Duong Duc Lan emphasized.

(After 5 years implementing Decision No. 630, 34 skill assessment centers have been established along with that is the development of primary occupations at vocational institutions, enterprises; 189/250 national occupational standards, 74/130 primary occupations standards have been issued; cooperation with international cooperation agencies from Australia, Germany, Japan, South Korea continues to expand…)