A practical lesson on mechanical equipment maintenance of students at Hung Vuong Technical and Technology Vocational College - Photo: NHU HUNG
This is the reality that many secondary schools have brought up in the 2024-2025 school year summary conferences of the vocationaleducation emulation blocks in Ho Chi Minh City recently.
Unable to compete
MSc. Hoang Quoc Long - Principal of Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary School - said that in the context of an increasingly expanding education system, secondary schools are under fierce competitive pressure from higher education systems such as colleges and universities.
He said that now the option of "failing university or college, then going to vocational school" is no longer available as before, vocational schools now have almost no opportunity to recruit students after high school. The rate of students enrolling in vocational school after graduating from high school is very low, almost negligible.
According to him, the main reason is that university entrance is getting easier and easier, and the variety of admission methods makes it so that almost all high school graduates "get into" university or college. The source of secondary school admission is gradually drying up.
Therefore, according to Master Hoang Quoc Long, the main target that intermediate schools can reach is students in the 9+ system, that is, after completing junior high school. But even this segment is facing difficulties, because many colleges are now participating in recruiting and training students in the 9+ system.
According to Ms. Doan Thao Nguyen - Vice Principal of Au Viet College - the enrollment activities of colleges are currently facing many challenges. Many high schools are hesitant to let colleges into their consulting schools. This mentality is quite opposite when welcoming universities.
However, there is currently an advantage when the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has become the focal point for managing educational institutions from primary to secondary, college and university in the area. She believes that the department can take advantage of this to deploy the sharing of career guidance information early, and at the same time, divide some admissions consulting activities by area, helping to increase the opportunity to reach students more evenly among schools.
Master Tran Phuong - Principal of Viet Giao Secondary School - shared that many schools do not have enough resources to invest in facilities or improve training quality, leading to students easily dropping out of school. The lack of high-quality lecturers is also a major barrier affecting the reputation and effectiveness of training.
Mr. Cao Minh Quy - Head of the Department of Continuing, Vocational and University Education (Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City) - acknowledged these difficulties and said that in the coming time, the department will have directions to support schools in enrollment and communication.
In particular, the work of streamlining is an important task to improve the quality of human resources in Ho Chi Minh City today.
Secondary schools must also renew themselves.
MSc. Hoang Quoc Long emphasized that it is time to reconsider the role of secondary schools in the vocational education system. "Secondary schools should not be the last resort, but should be a choice with orientation from the beginning," he said.
According to him, secondary schools can become a place to train students with solid practical skills after grade 9, especially in fields lacking human resources such as engineering, services, and manufacturing. With the advantage of fast training, linked to vocational skills, secondary schools can promptly meet the needs of the labor market. If done well, this will be a source of skilled labor, reducing the cost of retraining for businesses.
Similarly, Ms. Doan Thao Nguyen affirmed that secondary schools must change their image, no longer being a place "for weak students", but a place for practical learning, quick career progression, and clear jobs. Some schools have invested heavily in facilities, friendly learning environments, simulating business environments, so that students can "do real work" during their studies.
For example, in some schools, the model of "enterprise in school" or training cooperation with enterprises has been implemented. Students can intern, work and be recruited immediately after graduation.
"When students and parents clearly see a specific career path, enrollment is no longer a difficult problem. However, this work will take a lot of time," Ms. Nguyen emphasized.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-trung-cap-can-nguon-tuyen-hoc-sinh-sau-thpt-20250423111530128.htm
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