According to experts, bringing vocational schools back to the Ministry of Education and Training will create unity and synchronization.
On January 1, 2017, vocational education (VET) had an important change when it was transferred from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). At the time of management, the country had 1,989 VET institutions, including 409 vocational colleges and 583 vocational secondary schools.
Improve training quality
On February 26, 2025, the Government issued Decree 37/2025/ND-CP stipulating the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training. Accordingly, many departments and bureaus of the Ministry of Education and Training have been eliminated or merged, from 23 units to 18 units. Of which, the Department of Continuing Education and the General Department of Vocational Education will merge into the Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education.
This means that after 8 years of changing management agencies, from March 1, 2025, vocational schools will return to the state management function of the Ministry of Education and Training.
Master Tran Phuong, Principal of Viet Giao Secondary School (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City), expressed that centralized management and collection from the Ministry of Education and Training will create more favorable conditions for the connection of education levels. It will help students easily transfer from secondary school to college and university. This is also an opportunity for vocational training institutions to cooperate more closely with universities, creating conditions for improving the quality of training and being a source of enrollment for universities. At the same time, becoming a "child" of the Ministry of Education and Training will help enhance the reputation of the school.
Sharing the same perspective, Dr. Chau Van Bao, Vice Principal of Ly Tu Trong College (Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City), said that the unification of vocational education management under the Ministry of Education and Training is expected to bring many benefits to the enrollment work of colleges and intermediate schools. In addition to enhancing connectivity and synchronization, this change will help schools simplify administrative procedures.
"Previously, vocational schools had to carry out many procedures with both ministries, causing delays in enrollment. When management is unified, procedures will be simplified, helping schools focus more on training quality and attracting candidates," said Dr. Bao.
Experts say that at each stage, vocational education has certain strengths. When the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs takes over, vocational schools can easily connect with the labor market, understand the needs of businesses and can quickly adjust training programs to meet market requirements. As for the Ministry of Education and Training, its many years of experience in managing the education system will help vocational schools ensure training quality according to the common standards of the national education system.
"When transferring vocational education to the Ministry of Education and Training for management, it is necessary to redefine the training objectives. Does the Ministry of Education and Training want to train workers with high practical skills, meeting the immediate needs of businesses, or does it want to train people with solid foundational knowledge, capable of adapting to many different jobs?" - Master Tran Phuong raised the issue.
Starting from March 1, 2025, vocational education institutions will be under the state management function of the Ministry of Education and Training.
Comprehensive adjustment is needed
As someone who has participated in the management and development of vocational training programs, Associate Professor - Master Lam Van Quan, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Vocational Education Association, said that this change not only requires a clear roadmap but also requires strong commitment from both sides: management agencies and training institutions.
The transfer of state management of vocational education from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to the Ministry of Education and Training needs to be viewed in the overall context. The policy of streamlining the apparatus and administrative reform of the Party and Government is not only aimed at reducing management units but also towards the goal of building a unified, interconnected and standardized education system.
According to Associate Professor - Master Lam Van Quan, which agency manages vocational education is only part of a larger problem. What is more important is that the vocational education system must best meet the practical needs of society and the labor market; there needs to be effective coordination between ministries and sectors, avoiding overlap or broken links between education and the labor market.
"The transformation of vocational education management agencies is a challenge but also an opportunity to restructure the vocational education system. It is necessary to put learners at the center, taking training quality and social needs as the top criteria. A stable management strategy, close links between ministries, sectors and enterprises is the key for vocational education to promote its role in providing high-quality human resources for the country" - Associate Professor, Master Lam Van Quan commented.
A representative of a college in Ho Chi Minh City said that changing the management agency will require time for colleges and intermediate schools to adapt and harmonize these two training orientations. In addition, current regulations, circulars and policies may no longer be appropriate and need to be comprehensively adjusted.
"Currently, colleges have completed the third cycle of adjusting training programs. When changing management agencies, it is mandatory to continue adjusting training programs, subject programs, basic subjects, output standards, and training methods to comply with the standards of the Ministry of Education and Training. Lecturers and managers may have difficulty adapting to new requirements, including standards for degrees and teaching methods," he said.
Concerned about the degree
Not only are training institutions worried about the change of management agency, many students are also wondering whether it will affect the graduation process in the future.
Faced with the above information, Ly Tu Trong College recently organized meetings and consultations during homeroom classes to explain to students.
"The transfer of vocational education management does not affect the value of students' degrees. Degrees are still recognized according to current regulations," affirmed Dr. Chau Van Bao.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/xay-dung-he-thong-giao-duc-lien-thong-chuan-hoa-196250302212616981.htm
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