Many difficulties when merging vocational training centers and continuing education centers

(Baonghean) - The policy of merging vocational training centers, continuing education centers, and general technical and career guidance centers began to be implemented in early 2015. This is an inevitable trend to improve the effectiveness of training and vocational education, but the implementation process shows that many difficulties have arisen...

Waste of facilities of vocational training centers

Although Anh Son District Vocational Training Center has been invested in quite spaciously with 2 high-rise buildings, 2 practice workshops (including 1 workshop under construction) and a team of 10 teachers, for many years now its operations have not been really effective.

Every year, the main task of the center is to open short-term vocational training classes for local people from the funding source of the 1956 Rural Vocational Training Project, and a few training classes in the form of joint ventures.

Class hours of students at Anh Son District Continuing Education Center.

Another reality is that although the People's Committee of Anh Son district has a policy of vocational training and job introduction for students who are divided into streams, for many years now, the recruitment at the center has not been effective. The arrangement of teachers at the center is also not reasonable, because there are currently 6 vocational teachers but the training profession is not suitable, so every time the center opens a class, it has to invite teachers from other vocational schools to teach.

Located in the same area, Anh Son Continuing Education Center currently has 5 classes for continuing education students, including 2 10th grade classes, 2 11th grade classes and 1 12th grade class. According to Mr. Bui Duc Tuan - Director of the Center, in the current conditions, the center's ability to open 5 classes for high school students is quite successful.

However, to organize both teaching and vocational training, the center cannot take on all of them and must coordinate with Viet Duc Vocational College to teach, and the practice equipment must also be transferred from Vinh City, which is quite complicated.

Besides, the tasks of the two units have been overlapping for a long time. Therefore, if merged, it will avoid unhealthy competition in the recruitment work.

Brocade cutting class of SODI/BMZ project management board in collaboration with Anh Son district Women's Union and Vocational training and employment promotion center, opened in Khe Gat village, Tam Son commune. Photo: Document

At the Tuong Duong District Vocational Training Center, waste has also occurred after many years of operation. As of now, although the center has been invested in quite spaciously and has adequate facilities, after 6 years of operation, it is almost unused, because each year the center only opens 3-5 vocational training classes from the budget of the Vocational Training Project for Rural Workers.

However, because the target students are farmers, the classes are held in the villages. Mr. Nguyen Duy Thong - Director of the Center also said: Although the center has the function of recruiting vocational students, most of them cannot be recruited because students do not like the elementary vocational training program (3 months).

The same situation also occurs at vocational training centers in Ky Son, Quy Chau, and Que Phong districts, even though in recent years these centers have invested tens of billions of dong in facilities.

From these shortcomings, merging vocational training centers, continuing education centers, and career guidance centers is inevitable.

Difficulties arise

In Thanh Chuong district, there are 3 centers that need to merge (continuing education center, vocational training center, career guidance center) and are also facing many arising problems.

Discussing this issue, Mr. Trinh Van Nha - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee said: Regarding the policy, the district agrees with the merger because this is an inevitable trend. However, the implementation needs to be step by step. According to the plan, after the merger, the centers will move to the headquarters of the vocational training center.

Teaching sewing to students at Quy Chau District Vocational Training Center.

The district will also retain the facilities of the Continuing Education Center to teach general education. The staff who will not continue to work as managers will be assigned to work as team leaders. The district has also sent comments to the Department of Education and Training regarding the case of 2 contract teachers signed by the department. Contract cases of the centers under current conditions, if not necessary, must be dismissed.

Reality also shows that the characteristics of each locality are different, and the merger process will not be effective without the coordination of related sectors. For a long time, Continuing Education Centers have been under the management of the Department of Education and Training, while vocational training centers have been under the management of districts. This raises the question of how the centers will operate after the merger, who will be the professional management unit, and how will the staff be used?...

However, for the merger to be effective, there needs to be coordination between relevant departments and sectors. At the same time, the merger of centers must be consistent with the planning for the development of the local network of educational institutions, vocational training and career guidance; meet the needs of vocational training and organize the implementation of continuing education programs at the district level, ensuring the rights of officials, teachers and employees.

My Ha