Clarifying shortcomings in vocational training and labor management in ethnic minority areas

On the morning of July 8, the Supervisory Delegation of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council had a working session with the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs on the implementation of vocational training policies, labor management and use; human resource development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas from 2017 - 2019; implementation of human resource development policies in ethnic minority and mountainous areas of Nghe An province from 2017 to present.

Attending the meeting were Mr. Hoang Viet Duong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; representatives of provincial departments, branches and sectors. Photo: Thanh Le

There are still many shortcomings in vocational training.

Referring to vocational training policy, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Minority Committee of the Provincial People's Council Luc Thi Lien expressed concerns about the inadequate policies for ethnic minority workers.

According to Ms. Lien, the target set compared to the total number of trained workers who have jobs is still low. Through monitoring in localities, the Provincial People's Council's monitoring team has not yet received results on the number of workers in the area.

"This shows that labor management is not strict. In reality, workers are having to go far away to work. The problem is that there needs to be a proper orientation in vocational training for workers in the coming period," said Ms. Lien.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council Hoang Viet Duong speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Le

Regarding the quality of vocational training, Mr. Tran Dinh Toan - Deputy Head of the Provincial People's Council's Legal Committee reflected that some schools have good facilities such as headquarters and campus, but the equipment inside is both old and outdated. The teaching staff is both thin and weak, lacking and low-skilled. In the coming time, it is necessary to improve the model of vocational training centers, otherwise it will be both wasteful and ineffective.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Nguyen Tat Thanh - Deputy Chief of the Provincial People's Council Office said that in reality, vocational training is following the needs of learners, not the needs of the market, and the training field has not met the needs of the market. Through surveys in some localities, vocational schools and training facilities are similar, not reasonable in reality, and some occupations are outdated.

Currently, the province has 65 vocational training institutions, including 3 high-quality schools, 16 key vocational schools, with 13 international-level occupations, 9 ASEAN-level occupations, and 36 national-level occupations. Of which, ethnic minority and mountainous areas have 11 vocational training institutions.

The total number of teachers and managers in vocational training institutions is 3,221 people. In the period 2017-2019, the whole province recruited 216,407 people for vocational training.

Deputy Head of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the Provincial People's Council Luc Thi Lien reflects on the shortcomings in implementing vocational training policies. Photo: Thanh Le

Some members of the monitoring delegation requested the monitored units to clarify the issue of ethnic language training in vocational training and education establishments; the number of unemployed students and the high unemployment rate; the quality of ethnic minority cadres in state agencies, etc.

Vocational training at the Vietnam - Germany College in Nghe An. Photo: Nguyen Son

Vocational training linked to market needs

Clarifying the issues raised by the monitoring team, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Ho Thi Chau Loan affirmed that vocational training has helped people develop production, stabilize their lives and increase their income.

Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Ho Thi Chau Loan explained and clarified the contents of the monitoring delegation's concerns. Photo: Thanh Le

Every year, the industry conducts surveys to grasp the needs of workers, orienting them appropriately to local socio-economic development and market needs in order to come up with appropriate plans. However, this work has not been as expected, and the level of vocational training for workers is low.

Regarding the merger and consolidation of vocational education centers, the Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs said that the merger of vocational training, career guidance, and continuing education centers is considered a solution to concentrate resources, improve training and vocational training efficiency, and streamline the apparatus.

However, after the reorganization, there were difficulties and shortcomings in management work, and the Department is currently advising the Provincial People's Committee to gradually complete, reorganize, overcome and remove the shortcomings after the merger for this type.

Concluding the meeting, Head of the Ethnic Committee of the Provincial People's Council Lo Thi Kim Ngan requested the Department of Home Affairs to continue to pay attention to and advise on the training and fostering of human resources for ethnic minority cadres in state agencies to ensure effective ratio and quality.

For the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, it is necessary to have solutions to advise on overcoming the limitations and shortcomings of vocational training and labor use in ethnic minority areas. Continue to implement documents of the Central and the province on this work in conjunction with the socio-economic development policy of the province and the Central in the Western region.

The Department needs to review and evaluate the planning of the school network in the direction of streamlining, focusing on key points, reorganizing the apparatus and teachers to ensure teaching and learning.

At the same time, it is important to regularly and closely manage labor management data; streamline, guide careers, and train based on labor market needs, etc.

Thanh Le