The 2018 general education curriculum also defines lower secondary education as the basic education stage and upper secondary education as the career orientation stage. However, the need to explore career options and choose a profession at a particular time in life is a right of the students.
Teachers and schools should give students
access, introduction, and experience
Provide students with a realistic understanding of various professions so they can make informed choices. Provinces and cities are responsible for creating the necessary facilities and schools to enable students to pursue their studies in the best possible way.
Students at a vocational college in Hanoi are receiving practical training in nursing.
Dr. Tung Lam commented that Vietnam
career guidance
Students starting from the lower secondary level also follow a common approach to education in many countries around the world . Many developed countries provide career guidance to students very early on, and by the time they reach lower secondary school, many choose professions to specialize in. When they enter upper secondary school, students don't study many subjects just to prepare for the graduation exam, but only focus on subjects that match their abilities to get into their desired university.
This expert also pointed out that, in reality, there are inadequacies and overlaps in the management of general education and vocational training programs between the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. The problem of high schools being closely linked to career guidance needs to be solved systematically, ensuring reasonable job placement and good income for graduates.
He gave an example: nowadays, many families send their children to work abroad. They painstakingly find their way through various companies, and in many cases, they are exploited.
Cheat
"Why isn't there a policy to link high schools with vocational schools so that after graduation, students can pursue vocational training, learn languages, and work abroad? Currently, we still place too much emphasis on degrees in training programs, failing to stay close to reality to find effective solutions," he said.
Linked to output
Local authorities, as well as the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, must acknowledge that
student streaming rate after lower secondary school
Over the years, although the number of students has increased, it has not yet reached the set target. In reality, many parents still want their children to continue their education at the high school level instead of choosing a career path from the junior high school level. Many vocational schools have approached and introduced their programs to schools, but parents have not been enthusiastic.
Pham Khuong Duy, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Vinh Phuc province, shared that the province has many industrial zones and aims to train highly skilled and intellectually capable human resources to meet local labor needs and develop key industries. Therefore, if there are clear and specific binding mechanisms, career guidance and vocational training in high schools will have a better impact on the awareness of students, parents, and society, creating a two-way impact on the supply and demand of human resources in localities. For example, there could be a mechanism for cooperation between educational institutions and businesses regarding job placement.
Based on his teaching experience, Mr. Dinh Thanh Khuong, Director of the Continuing Education and Vocational Training Center of Ha Nam province, also stated that currently, continuing education institutions are implementing two programs simultaneously: general education and vocational training. The total number of class hours per student per year is significantly higher than the number of class hours for students in regular high schools. Students are also required to acquire sufficient general education knowledge to pass the high school graduation exam while pursuing vocational training. Therefore, policies are needed to balance the educational programs and reduce the pressure on students who choose vocational training early.
At the workshop to provide feedback on the draft Government Decree on career guidance and streaming in education, organized by the Ministry of Education and Training, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong stated that streaming and career guidance are important tasks. The difficulties and shortcomings in the work of streaming and career guidance in the past have both objective and subjective causes, thus failing to achieve the set goals. “If we provide good career guidance, then streaming will be very smooth. If we provide the right direction from the beginning, we will not waste time, money, and effort of students, parents, and society,” Mr. Thuong said.
Government Decision 522 aims to ensure that by 2025, at least 40% of students graduating from lower secondary school continue their studies at vocational education institutions offering elementary and intermediate level training. Recently, National Assembly representatives proposed reducing the percentage of students pursuing vocational training after lower secondary school, arguing that this places significant pressure on 9th-grade students during the 10th-grade entrance exam.
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