Many vocational schools in Nghe An province have met their enrollment targets early.
With a large number of junior high school graduates and limited capacity in both public and private high schools, many vocational schools in Nghe An province have had an easier time recruiting students this year.
For the 2024-2025 academic year, Yen Thanh Technical College planned to enroll 290 students. However, according to Mr. Tran Thanh Thuan, the school's principal, 370 students have already registered, including some from Dien Chau district. Many parents submitted applications for their children to attend immediately after the end of the 9th grade, instead of waiting for the results of their children's high school entrance exams before contacting the school.
"In the last 10 years, this year has seen the highest number of students registering for enrollment. On the first day of enrollment, July 15th, the number of students registering exceeded the school's quota," Mr. Thuan shared.
At the North Nghe An Economic and Technical College (located in Cau Giat town, Quynh Luu district), Mr. Chu Minh Loi, the school's principal, said: "Recognizing the increasing number of students graduating from junior high school, the school has planned to recruit 480 students for the vocational training program since the beginning of the year, an increase of 105 students compared to the previous academic year. Last year, the school only filled its quota around the end of September or beginning of October. However, now, after a short recruitment period, the school has basically accepted 480 students who have completed the junior high school program and wish to study both general education and vocational skills, matching the school's capacity."
The province currently has 53 vocational education and training institutions, including 9 colleges, 12 secondary schools, 1 vocational education center, 19 vocational education and continuing education centers, and 12 other establishments.
According to Mr. Hoang Sy Tuyen, Head of the Vocational Education Department of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, a positive sign is that many vocational education institutions in the province have completed the enrollment process for junior high school graduates ahead of schedule.
Besides Yen Thanh Technical College, Bac Nghe An Economic and Technical College, other schools such as Nghe An Ethnic Boarding College, Western Economic and Technical College, Southwest Economic and Technical College… and vocational colleges offering intermediate-level training such as Vietnam-Korea Technical and Industrial College, Viet-Duc Nghe An College, Nghe An Tourism and Trade College… have also basically completed their enrollment targets for students graduating from junior high school.
Reportedly, the reason vocational schools are having more successful enrollments compared to previous years is due to a sudden increase in the number of 9th-grade students in the 2023-2024 school year. According to statistics, the entire province has 53,829 9th-grade students, an increase of 7,249 compared to the previous school year. Of these, about 6,000 students did not register for the 10th-grade entrance exam but instead enrolled in vocational schools, entered the workforce, or chose other options.
On the other hand, schools have also been proactive and decisive in their enrollment efforts from the beginning of the year with specific plans and measures. For example, at Yen Thanh Vocational Technical College, Principal Tran Thanh Thuan said: “The school sent staff and teachers to 33 junior high schools in the district to introduce the program combining general education with vocational training. This helped parents and students understand that vocational training under this program offers priority enrollment, ensures quality training, shortens study time, and provides tuition support throughout the learning process, saving costs for establishing themselves and their careers. As a result, many students subsequently enrolled at the school instead of choosing to apply to high schools in the area.”
Since the end of 2022, Circular No. 15/2022/TT-BGDĐT has been issued, regulating the amount of general education knowledge at the high school level and the teaching of this knowledge in vocational education institutions. Accordingly, vocational school students must study compulsory subjects, including three subjects: Mathematics, Literature, and History, and at least one elective subject from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Geography. The head of the vocational education institution decides on the selection of subjects appropriate to the training field and profession. This Circular has provided vocational education institutions with a legal framework and greater autonomy in implementing general education for students who have just graduated from junior high school and are pursuing vocational training.
Mr. Hoang Sy Tuyen - Head of Vocational Education Department (Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs)
