Delivering opening speech, Deputy Minister Huynh Van Ti emphasized: Our country is in a period of extensive integration into the world therefore, opportunities for development is abundant but there are also many obstacles and challenges. In which human resource problem presents imperative, significant challenge to whole sector. Development of vocational schooling system, teachers yielded encouraging results over the past years, and vocational training quality has improved but there remains many problems, concerns.
Deputy Minister suggested: The workshop aimed at evaluating the implementation of Vocational training development strategy during period 2011-2015, orientation for period 2016-2020 and Evaluating the Project “Innovation and development of vocational training” are all important contents therefore the delegates need to seriously examine the problems, especially review the system of policies centering on general solution for vocational training development.
Concurrently, there is a need for candid, objective evaluation of the situation and in-depth discussion over impending issues so that the Ministry leader can study what type of content can be amended, adjusted for submission to the Government for consideration.
Presenting preliminary report on implementation of vocational training development strategy for period 2011-2015, Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh – Deputy Director General of General Directorate of Vocational Training said: After 5 years of implementation, Vocational training development strategy during period 2011-2020 has achieved various significant results. By which, total number of students recruited for vocational training in 5 years (2011-2015) is 9,171,371, reaching 95.5% against target set by the Strategy, an increase of 18% compared to 2006-2010 period. Over 2.4 million rural laborers  were provided vocational primary training and vocational training with duration of less than 3 months in according to 1956 Project. Proportion of trained laborers at all levels is 38.5%, nearly accomplished the target set by the Strategy (96.2%).

Planning the network of vocational institutions also made significant leap as there are 59 provinces who already established vocational colleges, reaching 92%. Vocational institutions have become financially autonomous, applied information technology into vocational training, management and development of teachers. Up to 2015 there are 1,467 vocational institutions (including 190 vocational colleges, 280 vocational secondary schools and 997 vocational centers, more than 40,615 vocational teachers and after 5 years (2011-2020) 7.352 vocational teachers have been given training in vocational skill.
Apart from those achievements, the delegates also admitted the shortfalls in development of the program, curriculum; construction of national qualification framework; vocational facilities and equipment; vocational training accreditation, international cooperation…By which some objectives did not meet the requirements such as the network of vocational institutions, number and quality of vocational teachers, managerial staff; issuance of national skills certificate; orientation high school students into vocational training after their graduation…
Rationales for failure to achieve those abovementioned objectives include being slow in issuing “planning the network of vocational colleges, vocational secondary schools, vocational primary schools until 2020”. The effect of amending, supplementing a number of articles in Law on vocational training into Vocational Education Law, especially the systematic change leads to the change in network of vocational training institutions, as the result the Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affair temporarily does not issue the planning.
Apart from that, distribution of vocational institution network is irrational, level of resources invested into the school only accomplished 62% against original plan. Even though the number of vocational teacher has increased but vocational skills level in accordance with new criteria only reached approximately 60% and organization of training for vocational managerial staff is not robust, unsystematic and unprofessional…
Responding to those concerns, Mr. Duong Duc Lan – Director General of General Directorate of Vocational Training has reviewed, evaluated, and pointed out limitations, shortcomings in implementing Vocational training development strategy during period 2011-2020 which serves as the foundation for next period where the Strategy will center on standardization and institutionalization. Vocational training requires enormous investments so as to meet the demand for training national human resource, the government budget shall play a crucial role via programs, projects relating to vocational training.
Vocational training development strategy for period 2016-2020 will focus on provision of training in primary occupations with the goal of reaching ASEAN region and world level, making a breakthrough in vocational quality and increase the proportion of trained laborers to 63% in 2020. In order to achieve that goal, following responsibilities, solutions shall be focused upon: innovation of state management of vocational training; review and rearrange the network of vocational institutions, especially study the possibility of authorizing the colleges to establish cooperation with universities for education transfer between different levels.
Simultaneously, develop solution for standardization of teachers and vocational managerial staff and construct plan for standardization; develop the program, curriculum and national qualification framework; intensify international cooperation, linkage with enterprises for vocational training…
During the workshop, many delegates also raise concern with regard to student recruitment, vocational training in occupations that face many difficulties and offer solutions as well as recommendations, proposals to the Ministry for submission to the Government for reviewing, amending and supplementing vocational training development strategy during period 2016 -2020. The delegates were also concerned with how to implement the network of vocational institutions in localities? Because since Vocational Education Law came into effect no document is issued to provide specific guidance on which managerial body will regulate the vocational training activities?
According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Minh – Deputy Director General of General Directorate of Vocational Training (Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs): Currently, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and Ministry of Education and Training are coordinating to implement Vocational Education Law. The question of which managerial body governs vocational training activities will rest upon the Government’s decision. Consequently, the localities will continue to implement vocational training activities in accordance with regulation.