Vocational education in Vietnam faces persistent challenges in attracting students, despite recent progress in enrollment from 2020 to 2023, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA).
The MoLISA’s General Department of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) noted that the sector still grapples with low societal recognition and a lack of skilled workers.
While vocational institutions enrolled 760,000 at the college level and 1.1 million at the intermediate level, elementary-level workers continue to dominate the workforce, making up 77.3% of total workers. Only 27% of the workforce has formal training, leaving 38 million untrained by the end of 2023, posing a major challenge for industrialization efforts.
Experts blamed that outdated policies and weak ties between vocational schools and businesses are contributing factors. Collaborations with businesses mainly focus on internships, limiting curriculum updates. In addition, enrollment difficulties persist, as university admission policies allow for multiple applications, diverting potential vocational students.
Proposed solutions include a “1+1+1” model that integrates school-based learning, training centers, and real-world production sites. The ministry is also reviewing the vocational education system to improve resource allocation and boost support for technical training programs in key sectors to meet industrial demands.
(Nhan Dan)