General Education Program 2018: Innovating career guidance to support candidates

The 2018 general education program has many new features, such as students having to choose subject combinations from grade 10, and the addition of computer science and technology as subjects in the graduation exam. Therefore, career guidance and admissions counseling at universities have also changed to provide timely support to candidates.

Students learn about the Mechanical Engineering Technology major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education. Photo: THANH HUNG

Promote career guidance early.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Phung, Deputy Director of the Admissions and Business Relations Center at the University of Finance and Marketing in Ho Chi Minh City, with the changes in the new general education program, career guidance in high schools needs to be implemented as early as possible, starting when students are preparing to enter grade 10. This helps students orient themselves towards a career path early on so they can decide on a combination of subjects that suits their abilities.

According to Mr. Pham Doan Nguyen, Director of the Center for Skill Development and Career Guidance at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, with the changes in the new general education program, it is necessary to implement in-depth career guidance programs for students, apply digital technology in counseling, and strengthen online counseling programs from universities, specialized units, and reputable media organizations with experts who have high levels of understanding and expertise in various professions... in order to provide career guidance and orientation tailored to each student. Importantly, high schools must help students visit and experience real-world career paths and vocational training programs at universities.

Looking at the reality of management, Ms. Tran Duc Hanh Quynh, Deputy Head of the Education and Training Department of District 1 (Ho Chi Minh City), said that, given the characteristics of a district in the city center, the task of guiding students into appropriate educational paths faces many difficulties because most parents want their children to attend university or college. Many parents believe that the age after junior high school, or even after graduating from high school, is not yet mature enough, and they do not want their children to pursue vocational training.

Others believe that current vocational schools have outdated curricula that do not meet the needs of society, and that vocational students find it difficult to find jobs after graduation, so they "at all costs" must go to university to have better job opportunities. Therefore, to effectively implement the policy of student streaming, career counseling must be a collaborative effort from many sides, including schools, families, society, businesses, government, and organizations.

Educational institutions should regularly organize psychological counseling, career guidance, and student streaming before, during, and after the public high school entrance exam. This will help students gain early awareness of career paths and determine their direction and learning path from the end of junior high school.

Improving the quality of career guidance services.

12th-grade students from Vo Thi Sau High School (Ho Chi Minh City) ask questions during a college admissions counseling program. Photo: HOANG HUNG

According to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training, the number of university students studying STEM ( science , technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields in Vietnam, based on population ratio, is only about 55 students per 10,000 people, significantly lower than in other countries in the region and Europe. The percentage of students studying STEM fields relative to the total number of university students in Vietnam has fluctuated between 27% and 30% in recent years. Specifically for natural sciences and mathematics, the percentage of students studying these fields in Vietnam is only approximately 1.5%, one-third that of Finland, one-quarter that of South Korea, and one-fifth that of Singapore and Germany. Meanwhile, the scale of training in economic fields is much larger.

Commenting on this situation, Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, former Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, said that the current trend of students choosing majors in Vietnam is very similar to that of many countries around the world and in the region many years ago. This also reflects the law of supply and demand; if there is a need in society, students will pursue those fields of study.

However, what students often overlook is whether the field they choose, which is currently in high demand, will still be in high demand or will become saturated 4-5 years after graduation? This isn't the students' fault, but rather the fault of the education system, due to the neglect or superficial implementation of career guidance. In reality, however, improving career guidance is not something that can be achieved overnight.

According to representatives from many universities, for career guidance to be truly effective and meaningful, coordination between general education, higher education, and vocational education is necessary. Career guidance needs to be implemented systematically, with knowledgeable experts and scientifically designed career guidance programs to ensure appropriate and effective career guidance and student placement.

Mr. NGUYEN BAO QUOC , Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training:

Expanding the target audience for career counseling.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, career guidance for students is of particular importance, as this is the first year that 12th-grade students will participate in the high school graduation exam under the 2018 General Education Program. Changes in the regulations for the high school graduation exam and the admission methods of universities have a significant impact on students' choice of subjects.

Furthermore, the 2018 General Education Program has a new feature compared to the previous program: career guidance activities are implemented starting from grade 10, and then expanded to include knowledge content in grades 11 and 12. In contrast, most current career counseling programs are only for grade 12 students.

I believe it's necessary to expand the scope of career counseling, helping students choose suitable subjects from grade 10 onwards, thereby establishing a stable learning path throughout their three years of high school and minimizing the need to switch subjects after grade 10 or 11.

Dr. HOANG NGOC VINH , former Director of the Department of Professional Education

(Ministry of Education and Training):

Simultaneously providing general education and career guidance through university selection is overly ambitious.

Career guidance education around the world has changed significantly in the last two decades, but Vietnam has not seen much change. In Vietnam, career guidance education at the high school level teaches students vocational skills that are recognized in the labor market.

However, in our country, the curriculum design lacks the required professional skills standards for the industry, there is a lack of equipment, and vocational schools are separate from the local high school system.

With the 2018 General Education Program, it's said to have a career-oriented focus, but in reality, it's more about "streaming" and "exam-oriented" admissions into natural sciences and social sciences... With thousands of different fields of study at the university level, how can the new general education program have any ambition for career guidance?

That's just a "direction" to choose exam subjects and admission criteria to increase the chances of getting into university... Therefore, the dual goal of providing foundational general knowledge while also aiming for career guidance and university admission in the 2018 General Education Program is overly ambitious and unrealistic. The consequences of this "career guidance," which is essentially "exam-oriented," have distorted the goals of general education due to unbalanced learning and teaching. Teaching not for the sake of learning but solely for the purpose of "exams" urgently needs to be adjusted in the 2025 exam.

Mr. Pham Thai Son , M.Sc., Director of the Admissions and Communications Center, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade:

Career guidance should be integrated into the general education curriculum.

Career guidance should not be a standalone activity but should be integrated into core subjects, especially those like Civics, Life Skills, and elective courses. This way, students will have access to career information during their studies, giving 10th and 11th graders a more comprehensive understanding of various professions.

Furthermore, career guidance should be promoted early, starting from the secondary school grades with activities exploring students' abilities, interests, and potential, rather than focusing solely on grade 12. This allows students more time to think and prepare thoroughly for their future paths.

The new general education program encourages holistic development, therefore career guidance should focus on developing vocational skills and "soft" skills.

THANH HUNG - THU TAM

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/chuong-trinh-giao-duc-pho-thong-2018-doi-moi-cong-tac-huong-nghiep-de-ho-tro-thi-sinh-post762733.html