Towards vocational high school

The draft Law on Education (amended), expected to be submitted to the National Assembly at the end of this year, proposes abolishing the concept of "secondary schools" and replacing it with "vocational high schools," while also adding vocational high schools as a level of education in the national education system.

THACO College, with its investments in teaching equipment, ensures that students learn and practice simultaneously. Photo: THACO

Accordingly, after completing grade 9, students will have three options: attend high school, attend vocational high school with a basic certificate, or attend vocational high school with an intermediate vocational certificate. Changing the name from intermediate vocational school to vocational high school will have a more positive impact on the implementation of vocational training objectives.

Mr. Phan Tiem, Principal of THACO College, suggested that it might be advisable to establish centers based on the annual student placement system. He argued that financial difficulties for high schools in collaborating with vocational colleges need to be addressed, as there is currently no established cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, given the local characteristics, the burden of studying both vocational training and general education is quite heavy, leading to many students dropping out midway through their studies.

“Therefore, when I heard about the establishment of a vocational high school, I thought it was an opportunity for both vocational schools and students. Currently, vocational schools have fully equipped facilities, and allowing colleges and vocational schools to organize continuing education programs on campus not only provides maximum convenience for learners but also helps to effectively integrate cultural and vocational programs, improving the overall quality of training,” said Mr. Phan Tiem.

The 9+ program, a parallel training model combining vocational training with high school education for junior high school graduates, has brought significant value to society. According to education experts, the program helps provide society with a timely supply of young, skilled labor. At Quang Nam College, as well as other vocational schools in Da Nang city, many students participating in this training system have successfully mastered both high school education and vocational skills.

The Da Nang Department of Education and Training organized a conference on coordinating the teaching of continuing education programs at the high school level for vocational students at educational institutions. (Photo: XH)

Currently, vocational education institutions are implementing the 9+ program in two ways. Firstly, students participate in vocational training and general education at secondary and higher education schools. Secondly, students receive vocational training and general education at vocational education and continuing education centers. If the draft regulations on vocational high schools are approved, this will be an opportunity for vocational training schools.

According to the draft, "vocational high school" will be the main option after grade 9, while "intermediate level" will only be for those who have graduated from high school.

The Strategy for the Development of Vocational Education and Training for the period 2021-2030 with a vision to 2045 has been approved by the Prime Minister, with the following objectives:

By 2030, vocational training will attract 50-55% of junior and senior high school graduates; the percentage of those with diplomas and certificates will reach 35-40%, and the percentage of the workforce with information technology skills will reach 90%...

Source: https://baodanang.vn/huong-den-truong-trung-hoc-nghe-3302730.html