Si Ma Cai: Focusing on vocational training for ethnic minorities.

The mountainous, border district of Si Ma Cai has 95% ethnic minority population. 56% of the population is of working age, with over 80% employed in agriculture . Therefore, vocational training for ethnic minority workers is considered a crucial solution in the district's poverty reduction efforts.

Previously, the life of Mr. Cu A Sung's family, a Mong ethnic minority member from Sin Chai village, Sin Cheng commune, was very difficult. He had no skills and did odd jobs, earning insufficient income to cover his expenses. Hoping for a stable profession, Mr. Sung enrolled in a 3-month basic construction engineering course organized by the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center of Si Ma Cai district right in his commune.

Mr. Sung said: "When I participated in the vocational training course, I learned a lot of useful knowledge and skills. After the course, I and some friends formed a construction team and took on several construction projects in the area. This work helps me earn enough income to support my family."

Not only Mr. Sung, but thousands of ethnic minority workers in Si Ma Cai district are increasingly understanding the importance and significance of vocational training, and are voluntarily registering to learn trades that suit their abilities, conditions, and qualifications. For example, in Sin Chai commune, nearly 700 workers have received vocational training. In 2023 alone, Sin Chai commune organized two short-term vocational training courses for 50 ethnic minority trainees. The commune also collaborated with the district's Agricultural Services Center to organize three training courses on medicinal plant cultivation; and techniques for planting and caring for temperate fruit trees such as pruning and branch shaping.

Thanks to the district's efforts in vocational training, in 2022 and 2023, Si Ma Cai district opened 32 short-term vocational training classes in various communes for nearly 1,300 ethnic minority workers. The training focused on skills such as construction techniques, planting and caring for temperate fruit trees, and raising large livestock.

Mr. Nham Tien Duc, Deputy Director of the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center of Si Ma Cai district, said: Ethnic minority laborers have the advantage of being healthy, honest, and skillful. If they are skilled workers and are well managed and educated, they can achieve quite high labor productivity.

The largest traditional brocade garment factory in Thào Chư Phìn commune is providing home-based employment for approximately 5-7 women in the commune.

To ensure the effectiveness of vocational training, Si Ma Cai district prioritizes linking vocational training with addressing the employment needs of the people, implementing a comprehensive set of vocational training solutions, with top priority given to promoting and guiding vocational education. The district strengthens communication through mass media about the role and significance of professions in life, and about the Party and State's policies and guidelines on vocational training...

Annually, the District Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with the District Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center, conducts surveys to understand the needs and aspirations of people in communes and towns regarding vocational training. Based on this, they plan and organize basic vocational training classes that are suitable to the actual situation of each locality and target group of learners.

Vocational training for ethnic minorities is conducted using a "hands-on" approach. Along with this, policies supporting tuition fees, meals, transportation, materials, and learning tools for ethnic minorities during vocational training have contributed to encouraging people to pursue vocational education.

Currently, the rate of trained labor in Si Ma Cai district has reached 59%, exceeding the target set by the Resolution of the 18th District Party Congress, term 2020-2025, by 9%. This result is the clearest evidence of the strong involvement of the entire political system in vocational training for ethnic minority people in the district.

Si Ma Cai district aims to have 50% of its workforce trained by 2025, with 25% holding degrees or certificates, thereby reducing the percentage of the district's agricultural workforce to below 60%.

To achieve its goals, Si Ma Cai district continues to effectively implement policies supporting rural laborers' participation in vocational training; promoting the integration of vocational training programs for rural laborers with projects under national target programs being implemented in the area. Along with this, it is strengthening linkages between training institutions and businesses to attract laborers to participate in vocational training, ensuring that training is closely linked to employment.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/si-ma-cai-quan-tam-dao-tao-nghe-cho-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-post385772.html