Vocational schools struggle to recruit students

GD&TĐ - Now that the high school graduation exam scores are available, vocational colleges must apply many solutions to enroll students in a context where many students consider this only "option 2".

Opportunities are intertwined with challenges.

Dr. Trinh Thi Thu Ha, Principal of Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism, stated that the school is one of the top 10 institutions in Hanoi for training in service and commercial fields. The school offers diverse training programs in high-demand sectors such as tourism, hospitality, culinary arts, e-commerce, and business administration. Simultaneously, the school implements communication strategies across multiple channels to ensure that people can access admissions information quickly and accurately.

This unit has provided admissions counseling at various programs: Admissions Fairs organized by the Ministry of Education and Training , directly at high schools; flexible online counseling... helping students and parents understand the majors, admission requirements, and career prospects. The school also connects with many large domestic and international corporations to collaborate on training students for practical experience at businesses.

“At the company, students are guided by department heads to practice professional skills and solve real-world work-related problems, gaining more knowledge and solid skills upon graduation. Many students have been recruited as full-time employees of the company immediately after graduation and have many opportunities for advancement,” Dr. Trinh Thi Thu Ha informed.

According to Dr. Vu Huu Y, Principal of Ha Nam Vocational College (Ninh Binh), from March 2025, the vocational education sector will be transferred to the Ministry of Education and Training for management, making professional and managerial work much easier. However, student recruitment remains a recurring problem for many years due to the mentality of "only pursuing vocational training if you fail the university entrance exam," with vocational training being considered only a "second option."

Currently, the school has recruited 97% of the total 720 students for the intermediate level program; the number of applicants for the college level program is only 50% of the total 300 students. This is because students are waiting for universities to complete their admissions process based on high school graduation exam results before applying to vocational colleges.

From a grassroots perspective, Mr. Nguyen Van Hang, Vice Principal of Ly Thai To College (Bac Ninh), said that the school's advantage lies in receiving attention and support from provincial leaders and departments. Many high schools and teachers have supported, collaborated with, and trusted in the quality of the school's training.

However, students have too many choices after graduating from high school, such as: studying abroad, working overseas, working as a factory worker to earn money immediately; attending university or college, preferably near home… Many people still have the mindset of "obsessing over degrees," so they feel compelled to send their children to university at all costs, even if they don't work in their field after graduation, have difficulty finding a job, or have to hide their university degree and work as a factory worker.

Candidates participating in the 2025 High School Graduation Examination at Ngo Quyen High School examination center, Ninh Binh. Photo: Khoi Nguyen

We need fundamental solutions.

Discussing solutions for student recruitment, the Principal of Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism, Trinh Thi Thu Ha, stated that communication about professions needs to be strengthened, especially those requiring a large workforce; the quality of training should be improved to enable students to work in businesses; and facilities should be fully equipped and modern to ensure the most favorable learning environment for students.

“We are stepping up career counseling, training programs, and job opportunities so that candidates understand their advantages and suitability for vocational training. The school offers incentives for early enrollment programs at different times, especially for candidates who apply and enroll early, creating many advantages for candidates during their studies at the school,” said Dr. Trinh Thi Thu Ha.

Dr. Vu Huu Y, Principal of Ha Nam Vocational College, believes that vocational training plays a particularly important role in the development of a nation's human resources. However, vocational education institutions need to be updated to keep up with the trends of modern education, attract students, and should be planned on a large scale, offering multi-disciplinary training.

“The Politburo's Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW on implementing fundamental and comprehensive reforms in education and training also clearly outlines the development orientation for vocational education. In the coming period, some vocational education institutions need continued targeted and high-quality investment to meet the needs of learners, high-quality human resources, and the changing labor market,” emphasized Dr. Vu Huu Y.

The Vice Principal of Ly Thai To College further explained that the school's future solutions will be to steadfastly and persistently focus on the quality of human resource training; innovate and improve the quality of teaching and learning for students and trainees; cooperate closely with businesses, linking internships with recruitment; and continue to promote communication and coordinate more effectively with high schools to provide proper career guidance and recruitment advice.

Ms. Tran Phuong, Principal of Viet Giao Vocational College (Ho Chi Minh City), noted that recruiting students after graduating from high school is becoming increasingly difficult, so it is necessary to diversify recruitment sources. The school consistently applies various recruitment methods, such as collaborating with vocational training and continuing education centers, organizing short-term training courses, and offering articulation programs… to compensate for the decline in enrollment in regular programs, which has become a strategy for maintaining the operation of many vocational education institutions.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/truong-nghe-loay-hoay-tuyen-sinh-post740373.html