Vocational training after grade 9: New choice, high application

Although facing challenges from increasing public high school enrollment quotas, vocational schools' advantages are tuition exemption and transfer opportunities.

In the 2025-2026 school year, the Ho Chi Minh City Departmentof Education and Training announced that there will be about 88,210 students graduating from junior high school. The target for entering grade 10 of public high schools is 70,070 students (accounting for 79%).

This means that about 17,244 remaining students (accounting for 19.5%) will choose to study at private high schools, vocational education - continuing education centers, vocational schools... in the city.

Reduce economic pressure

In recent years, vocational training after graduating from junior high school has gradually become a trend that many students and parents are interested in learning about. A typical example is Xuan Phuc, a student at Le Quy Don Junior High School (District 3). Although he is only in 7th grade, he has participated in many career counseling programs. Phuc is interested in training programs at junior colleges and colleges and "hot" majors that will become trends in the future.

According to experts, instead of continuing the purely academic path in high school, choosing vocational training brings novelty and high applicability. Students have access to knowledge and practical skills of a specific profession from an early age, helping them visualize their future career path more clearly.

Secondary school graduates study nursing at Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary School

According to records, at Cu Chi Vocational College (Cu Chi district), majors such as automotive technology, refrigeration and air conditioning engineering, and industrial electricity are attracting great attention from students. At Ho Chi Minh City International College (Binh Tan district), majors such as beauty care, industrial electricity, programming, and automotive technology of the 9+ training program also receive special attention.

The outstanding advantage of studying at a secondary school is the short training time. Vocational secondary school programs usually last about 2-3 years. Students study both culture and vocational training. After graduation, they can enter the labor market immediately. In particular, students can completely transfer to college or university.

Master Tran Minh Phung, Principal of Cu Chi Vocational College, said that the highlight of the school's enrollment policy is the complete exemption of tuition fees for students studying at vocational colleges, including vocational training costs and cultural programs as prescribed.

MSc. Phung explained: "Thanks to the tuition subsidy from the local government, students who choose to study at the school do not have to pay any tuition fees. This policy is expected to help reduce the financial burden on families, especially parents whose children do not intend to or are not admitted to public high schools."

Talking about career orientation for students, Dr. Hoang Quoc Long, Principal of Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary School (Go Vap District), said that at this age, students are often more suitable for oriented careers, which arouse their interests and create a foundation for future development than choosing a specialized career.

Therefore, the school often encourages male students to choose technical majors such as electricity, refrigeration, information technology (network assembly, computer repair). For female students, the school's strengths are still beauty care, food processing and restaurant - hotel management.

"These industries not only have high recruitment demand but also create favorable conditions for students to transfer or transfer to higher education levels if they have a clear direction for the future," Dr. Long emphasized.

Don't study too much.

In the context of increasingly fierce competition for grade 10 high school, choosing a vocational course after grade 9 needs to be carefully considered based on each student's ability, interests and future orientation. Education experts and representatives of vocational schools recommend that students and parents take a long-term view and choose a learning path that suits their abilities.

Dr. Hoang Quoc Long shared: "Although after graduating from high school, students can completely apply to university, we do not encourage them to go in this direction."

Dr. Long explained that vocational education and university education are quite different. Vocational education focuses on practical training, while university education specializes in research and theory. This difference will make it easy for secondary school graduates to be "overwhelmed" when entering the university environment.

"We still encourage students to continue their studies at college to gain more work experience before continuing their studies at a higher level. Going step by step, from intermediate to college and then university, will help students be better prepared in both knowledge and practical skills," Dr. Long pointed out.

This view is also shared by Master Nguyen Dang Ly, Principal of Ho Chi Minh City International College. Master Ly believes that learning a trade in stages, "slowly but surely", will help students have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, and accumulate practical experience before continuing to conquer academic heights. "Exceeding learning" or trying to enter unsuitable environments can cause unnecessary pressure and not bring long-term results.

"Therefore, for the 9+ training program, students will study 8 subjects according to the 2018 general education program (1 subject more than the previous 7 subjects). The school prioritizes systematic training of cultural subjects for students in the early stages before they get acquainted with the profession" - MSc. Ly informed.

Currently, vocational colleges and junior colleges in Ho Chi Minh City are making efforts to build quality training programs that are linked to the actual needs of the labor market, while creating favorable conditions for students to transfer to higher levels of education.

Facing difficulties

Increasing enrollment targets for grade 10 public high schools in the 2025-2026 school year is a "tough game" for vocational schools. The principal of Cu Chi Vocational College said that the school has completed counseling work at 24 secondary schools in Cu Chi district, setting an enrollment target of 450 students for 9 training majors this year.

According to the principal of Ho Chi Minh City International College, the school has received about 40 applications for admission at this time, a significant increase compared to last year. However, the school is still cautious in setting enrollment targets. In the 2025-2026 school year, the school will enroll 300 students in 10 majors (50 fewer than last year).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/hoc-nghe-sau-lop-9-lua-chon-moi-ung-dung-cao-196250427215500256.htm