Nghe An: Finding solutions to 'remove difficulties' for the Continuing Education - Vocational Education Center after the merger
(Baonghean.vn) - These solutions were discussed at the first conference organized by the Nghe An Education Department after the merger of Continuing Education and Vocational Education centers in the province.
On the morning of June 8, the Department of Education and Training held a Conference of Directors of Continuing Education, Vocational Education and Continuing Education Centers to resolve difficulties and problems of the centers during their operations, especially after the merger.
Lack of unity in direction after merger
Nghe An province has 21 Continuing Education Centers, including 2 provincial centers and 19 district centers. Currently, 12 centers have merged with district vocational training centers and changed their names to Continuing Education Centers.
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Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Khoa chaired and spoke at the conference. Photo: My Ha. |
According to the assessment, the merger has created conditions for units to reduce the number of contacts and staff, save on facilities, and be proactive in using local service centers.
However, there are also difficulties because after the merger, the units are under the management and expertise of two departments: the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Therefore, it leads to problems in operation, management, emulation, rewards and classification.
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| Representatives of Continuing Education Centers spoke at the conference. Photo: My Ha |
Currently, most centers operate in the form of both cultural and vocational training (accounting for 90%). However, in the implementation process, there are difficulties in arranging teachers (most of the permanent teachers in the units do not have enough 1 person/1 subject).
Meanwhile, the tuition fee for low-level students (80-100 thousand VND/month) is not enough to pay the salary of contract teachers. Teaching equipment is not enough to meet the needs of teaching and learning. Some centers still have many difficulties in recruiting students such as Tuong Duong, Con Cuong, Thai Hoa Town, Quy Chau, Que Phong, Thanh Chuong.
Need flexibility in enrollment and quota allocation
At the conference, delegates also frankly pointed out the difficulties in the implementation process. At the same time, they hoped that in the coming time, the Department of Education and Training, together with relevant departments and branches, would make adjustments to create conditions for the centers to operate effectively, such as approving enrollment targets twice (to suit the enrollment targets of centers that both study culture and vocational training).
Specifically, according to the representative of the Vinh City Continuing Education Center: Currently, the Center has more than 300 enrollment targets each year. However, in addition, the Center also coordinates to teach culture for vocational colleges in the area and this group often fluctuates and is not included in the annual enrollment target. Therefore, the Center requests the Department to allow the Center to enroll students multiple times and increase the target for these groups.
A representative of Tuong Duong district said that the center only recruits less than 20 students each year. Therefore, the unit's wish is that the Department needs to have guidance to create favorable conditions in the admission process.
Or with the operating mechanism, even though they have merged, the teaching regime of the same unit is different. Teachers at the Continuing Education Center only teach one session and have a two-month summer break. Meanwhile, vocational teachers work all day and have a one-month summer break, causing inequality within a unit.
Besides, many opinions say that it is necessary to strengthen and supplement facilities and teaching equipment, create conditions for teachers at the center to receive professional training, and adjust tuition fees for the centers.
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| A lesson of students at the Center for Continuing Education and Vocational Education in Dien Chau district. Photo: My Ha |
Concluding the conference, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Khoa shared the difficulties of the centers after the merger.
In the coming time, the Department of Education and Training will create conditions for the centers to organize classes on quality improvement, innovation of general education programs and vocational training to facilitate learners. At the same time, the Department will direct the centers to coordinate with high schools to build effective educational topics to improve the quality of teaching and exam preparation of the units.
To do a good job of career guidance and facilitate the recruitment process, the Department will consider and create conditions for centers to be flexible in the recruitment process. The recruitment process will be divided into two groups: recruiting secondary school students and recruiting students in vocational schools and outside the society.
In addition, the Department also requires units to strengthen and promote social learning activities and other activities in the spirit of training according to the needs of society, creating jobs for students after graduation.