Perfecting the mechanism for vocational teacher training at ASEAN and international levels

On the morning of January 2, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan chaired a working session with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance and the Government Office to listen to reports on the development and transfer of programs and teacher training at the ASEAN and international levels.

Overview of the working session. Photo: VGP/Tu Luong

This is one of the contents to concretize the Vietnam Human Resources Development Plan, focusing on determining human resource training for key industries and fields of the country in the 2011-2020 period.

According to the report of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the General Department of Vocational Training has identified a number of countries with experience and qualifications for deep cooperation in vocational training in the coming time: Malaysia, South Korea, Germany and Japan. Up to now, Malaysia and South Korea have had a written agreement to be ready to agree to provide all copyrights of the transfer program and move towards recognizing degrees when the conditions to ensure the quality of vocational training between the two countries are similar.

The General Department of Vocational Training has imported, transferred and translated 8 sets of training programs for 8 occupations from the Malaysian partner, including 4 key occupations at the ASEAN regional level: Seafood processing and preservation; wood product processing and design; Construction engineering; Reception management; 4 key occupations at the international level: Ship control; Food processing techniques; Ship engine operation; Hotel management.

Regarding the plan to transfer programs and teacher training by 2015, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs determined that by 2014, it will complete the transfer of programs, textbooks, vocational training materials, vocational skill standards, test banks, assessment methods, lists of vocational training equipment, and transfer of training technology for 49 ASEAN-level occupations and 26 international-level occupations.

It is expected that by 2015, the training of about 3,000 teachers and vocational lecturers at ASEAN and international levels will be completed.

At the meeting, Deputy Head of the Government Office Nguyen Khac Dinh suggested that the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs should redefine the training criteria and adjust the list of units participating in the pilot training project in a streamlined direction. Urgently develop a comprehensive project on ASEAN and international teacher training, thereby clearly defining tasks and work from now until the end of 2015. At the same time, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs should select another vocational training partner besides Malaysia to have more diverse options.

Concluding the working session, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan raised a number of requirements for the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to focus on clarifying, including the need to focus on training and fostering teachers at 26 key vocational schools nationwide. With 8 vocational programs that have been transferred from Malaysia, it is necessary to focus on synchronous implementation (programs, teachers and managers, equipment) and then draw experience on enrollment, training organization, and policy mechanisms.

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall develop a separate project on vocational teacher training abroad and submit it to the Prime Minister for approval, ensuring consistency and effectiveness.

For key occupations, it is necessary to consult with the sector management ministries to focus on investment, other occupations have priority order and implementation roadmap later. At the same time, determine the necessary training scale for those occupations; develop policies and mechanisms (policy packages) to ensure effective implementation such as: preferential regime for teachers, responsibilities and obligations after being trained and fostered abroad, policies for learners...).
The Deputy Prime Minister also suggested establishing a working group in large enterprises with a large workforce to determine vocational training needs.

Regarding partner selection, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs needs to clarify the basis and criteria for partner selection. Cooperation and negotiation with partners must be organized directly, without going through any intermediary stages to ensure effectiveness as well as program entry costs.

Key vocational schools must be proactive and committed to cooperating with businesses to provide vocational training, applying the model signed with Germany.

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs needs to develop a detailed financial plan for 2013; in October 2013, make an assessment report and prepare a financial plan for 2014. Pay attention to the coordination and assignment of management of sending teachers abroad between the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and localities.

According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, by 2020, the training quality of some occupations in Vietnam will reach the level of developed countries in the ASEAN region and the world.

In 2014, 100% of the teaching staff of key occupations at regional and international levels will meet the standards of vocational skills and pedagogical capacity of advanced countries in the ASEAN region and developed countries in the world. In 2015, there will be 26 high-quality vocational schools, and by 2020, there will be about 40 high-quality schools. By 2015, 49 regional-level programs and curricula and 26 international programs and curricula will be used.

In the 2016-2020 period, Vietnam will provide new college and intermediate vocational training for about 2.9 million people (of which 10% will reach national, ASEAN and international levels).

According to (Chinhphu.vn) – LT