Si Ma Cai: Focus on vocational training for ethnic minorities

The mountainous, border district of Si Ma Cai has 95% ethnic minorities living. The number of people in working age accounts for 56%, of which more than 80% work in the agricultural sector. Therefore, vocational training for ethnic minority workers is considered an important solution in the district's poverty reduction work.

Previously, the life of Mr. Cu A Sung's family, Mong ethnic, in Sin Chai village, Sin Cheng commune, faced many difficulties. He had no job, he did whatever people hired him to do, and his income was not enough to cover expenses. With the desire to have a stable job, Mr. Sung registered for a 3-month elementary construction technical class organized by the Center for Vocational Education - Continuing Education of Simacai district right in the commune.

Mr. Sung said: When I attended the vocational training class, I learned a lot of useful knowledge and skills. After finishing the course, I and some of my brothers formed a construction team and took on contracts for a number of projects in the area. This job helped me earn enough income to support my family.

Not only Mr. Sung, thousands of ethnic minority workers in Si Ma Cai district are increasingly understanding the importance and meaning of vocational training, thereby voluntarily registering to learn occupations suitable to their capacity, conditions, qualifications... Typically, in Sin Chai commune, up to now, the commune has nearly 700 workers trained in vocational training. In 2023 alone, Sin Chai commune organized 2 short-term vocational training classes for 50 ethnic minority students. The commune also coordinated with the district's Agricultural Service Center to organize 3 classes to instruct people on growing medicinal plants; techniques for planting and caring for temperate fruit trees such as canopy shaping, branch screwing...

With the district's efforts in vocational training, in 2022 and 2023, Si Ma Cai district opened 32 short-term vocational training classes in communes for nearly 1,300 ethnic minority workers. The training classes focus on the following occupations: Construction techniques, planting and caring for temperate fruit trees, and raising large livestock.

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

The largest brocade garment factory in Thao Chu Phin commune is creating jobs at home for about 5-7 women in the commune.

To promote the effectiveness of vocational training, Si Ma Cai district advocates linking vocational training with solving employment needs for people, synchronously implementing vocational training solutions, in which the top priority is propaganda and orientation of vocational education. The district strengthens propaganda through mass media about the role and significance of occupations in life, about vocational training policies and guidelines of the Party and State...

Every year, the District Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs coordinates with the District Center for Vocational Education - Continuing Education to conduct surveys, research, and grasp the needs and aspirations of vocational training of people in communes and towns, thereby planning to organize elementary vocational classes suitable to the actual situation of each locality and learning subjects.

Vocational training for ethnic minorities is carried out using the "hands-on" method. Along with that, the policy of supporting tuition fees, meals, fuel, materials, and learning tools for ethnic minorities when learning a trade has been and is contributing to encouraging people to learn a trade.

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

Si Ma Cai district sets a target of having 50% of its workers trained by 2025, of which 25% will have degrees and certificates, thereby reducing the proportion of workers in the district's agricultural sector to below 60%.

To achieve the goal, Si Ma Cai district continues to effectively implement the policy of supporting rural workers to participate in vocational training; promote the integration of vocational training projects for rural workers with projects under national target programs being implemented in the area. Along with that, promote the connection between training facilities and enterprises, in order to attract workers to participate in vocational training, vocational training linked to employment.

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