Don't let vocational school be the last resort.

9+3 MODEL

Since 2011, Directive 10 of the Politburo has had content on strengthening the streamlining of students after junior high school, with the goal of striving to have at least 30% of students after graduating from junior high school to study vocational training by 2020. Since then, many colleges and intermediate schools have implemented the 9+3 model, students graduating from junior high school both study vocational intermediate program and study cultural program (4 subjects) according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Currently, the government has many policies to encourage students to study vocational training after junior high school.

Although the policy has created conditions to attract students to vocational training, there are still many shortcomings and barriers from parents' psychology and from some regulations on labor use.

Dr. PHAM VU QUOC BINH (Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vocational Education , Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs)

Dr. Pham Huu Loc, Principal of Ly Tu Trong College (HCMC), commented that the government has introduced many favorable policies to encourage students to study vocational training, especially after junior high school. "First, students are supported 100% of tuition fees when studying intermediate programs. Second, students can both study vocational training and cultural programs so that when they graduate from intermediate school and have a certificate of completion of these cultural subjects, they are qualified to transfer to colleges and universities. Not to mention, the labor market is in great need of workers who have graduated from vocational schools. Many businesses come to the school to place orders and recruit, paying salaries based on ability, not on qualifications, showing that vocational training has many advantages for students."

Master Tran Phuong, Principal of Viet Giao Secondary School (HCMC), also said that currently, 9th grade students have many advantages if they go to vocational school, when they can choose many different professions that suit their interests and abilities, from engineering, technology, agriculture , services...

PARENTS ARE STILL HESITANT

According to Dr. Pham Vu Quoc Binh, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vocational Education, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, after Directive 10 of the Politburo, most recently the Decision approving the strategy for vocational education development for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045 of the Prime Minister, sets the goal of attracting 50-55% of junior high school and high school graduates by 2030.

"However, currently, on average, only about 19-20% of secondary school graduates nationwide go to vocational training. This number has increased significantly compared to previous years, although the rate is still not as expected. Although the policy has created conditions to attract students to vocational training, there are still many shortcomings and barriers from parents' psychology and from some regulations on labor use," Dr. Quoc Binh assessed.

Master Nguyen Dang Ly, Principal of Ho Chi Minh City International College, said that many parents still attach importance to degrees, with the traditional mentality that after finishing grade 9, their children must continue to high school and go to university, and do not consider vocational training as an equal choice like other options. That is an important reason why the entrance exam to grade 10 public schools is increasingly competitive, causing stress for both parents and students.

Sharing the same opinion, Master Tran Phuong shared: "Some students, due to incorrect understanding, worry that vocational training will limit their future job opportunities and income. Meanwhile, most parents still want their children to go to university even though this may not be suitable for the students' abilities and interests."

Regarding the issue of employing workers, Dr. Pham Huu Loc said that a major barrier that makes those who want to learn a trade hesitant is that state agencies require candidates to have a university degree when recruiting. "Foreign corporations and private enterprises no longer value degrees, but they evaluate candidates based on skills and abilities; but state agencies and enterprises still require workers to have a university degree, even for unnecessary jobs," Dr. Loc shared.

One of the solutions to attract vocational students is that schools must really focus on investing in training quality and flexibly changing teaching methods.

NEED TO INTEGRATE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION INTO THE GENERAL SCHOOL PROGRAM

To encourage more 9th graders to proactively choose vocational training, Master Tran Phuong said that efforts should be made to eliminate prejudice, improve career counseling, and convey full information about career opportunities after vocational training.

"Schools should also develop financial support policies such as scholarships and loans to reduce the burden on students when choosing vocational training. In addition, encourage businesses and companies to share about career opportunities and income for skilled workers," Mr. Phuong suggested.

According to Mr. Phuong, vocational education should be integrated into the general education program by adding subjects and career experience activities from primary and secondary school levels, helping students discover their strengths, interests and form career intentions earlier.

Master Nguyen Dang Ly also believes that it is very important to integrate careers into the primary and secondary school curriculum to help students become aware of careers from a young age. "Currently, secondary and high schools also have career guidance hours, but they are not yet effective, so this integration is absolutely necessary; because career guidance needs a long-term process and is done step by step. A few lessons, a few discussions with students will not be able to achieve the goals of career guidance and streaming," said Master Ly.

Dr. Pham Vu Quoc Binh believes that vocational education needs to promote career counseling for students from an early age, even from primary school. In the future, some occupations should be integrated into the curriculum, allowing students to get acquainted with and try to "play" the roles of occupational positions, from which they can know their abilities and desires to aim for. "The State has made vocational training free, so there should be a free policy when students study cultural subjects in vocational schools. In addition, the labor policy at state administrative agencies should also change so that vocational students can be recruited in suitable positions," Dr. Binh shared.

One of the solutions to attract vocational students, according to Master Phan Thi Le Thu, Vice Principal of Vien Dong College (HCMC), is that vocational schools must really focus on investing in training quality and flexibly change teaching methods.

Master Le Thu stated: "To attract more students, vocational schools want to be trained in the general education system and be granted high school graduation certificates by the Department of Education and Training like the general education centers; because currently the Ministry of Education and Training allows vocational school students who have studied general education to take the high school exam to get points for university admission but are not granted a high school diploma. In addition, there should be a unified set of common information data when students have the right to choose to register for vocational training right on the system of the Ministry of Education and Training."

The rate of good and excellent students proactively choosing vocational training is increasing.

Dr. Pham Huu Loc said that currently, Ly Tu Trong College has about more than 3,000 junior high school graduates enrolling in vocational training. "Among them, there are many good and excellent students who can completely pass the public 10th grade, but because they have good career orientation and love vocational training, they proactively registered right after completing 9th grade. Many of them are children of business leaders," Dr. Loc informed.

Master Phan Thi Le Thu said that Vien Dong College recruits this group very well every year. In recent years, the school has attracted many good and excellent students to study the 9+ program. In 2023 - 2024, more than 50% of good and excellent students from 4 consecutive years of middle school registered from the beginning, showing that parents have begun to have a different view on vocational training.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giam-cang-thang-thi-lop-10-dung-de-vao-truong-nghe-la-giai-phap-cuoi-cung-185240620222752083.htm