Vocational training in Vietnam is managed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, through the General Department of Vocational Training.
The National Assembly of Vietnam passed its Education Law and Vocational Training Law in 2005 and 2006 respectively, to recognise vocational training as part of the national education system. The Vocational Training Law increased the flexibility in training provision, and changed the system from two types of training "long-term and short-term training" to three distinct levels. Now there are three levels of vocational training available: primary, intermediate and diploma (college level).The following are the three most common types of VET institution:
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107 vocational colleges deliver training programmes at three levels - primary, intermediate and diploma (college level). An upper secondary graduate who wishes to receive a diploma has to study 2-3 years. A student with an intermediate skill certificate must study 1-2 years. |
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265 vocational secondary schools offer training programmes at primary and intermediate level. A student who is a lower secondary graduate (Grade 9) has to study 3-4 years to receive an intermediate skill certificate, while an upper secondary graduate (Grade 12) has to study 1-2 years. |
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865 vocational training centres deliver training programmes at primary level, lasting from three months to a year, and resulting in a primary certificate. |
In addition, around 800 other educational institutions also offer vocational training programmes. They include universities, colleges and professional secondary schools.
Each vocational training institution is authorised to award skill certificates and diplomas to its students.
The Vocational Training Law allows for flexible provision of vocational training. Higher level institutions are also allowed to offer vocational training at lower levels, so registered universities can offer VC programmes. Vocational Colleges can deliver intermediate and primary level courses, and Vocational Secondary Schools can deliver primary training programmes. In addition, businesses, cooperatives, production and trading units, specialised schools and other educational institutions are allowed to deliver primary training after registration.
The number of enrolments in 2008 increased by 27.4% compared to 2005. In 2009, the vocational training system in Vietnam trained 1.6 million students, with primary level accounting for 80% and intermediate and diploma levels accounting for 20%. By the end of 2010, about 30% of the labour force in Vietnam will have received vocational training.
Non-public training providers (NPTPs), allowed since 1998, now make up an important share of vocational training institutions. NPTPs include private sector training providers, foreign-backed training institutions and State Owned Enterprise-based training institutions. As of 2008, NPTPs accounted for 24% of VCs, 25% of VSSs and 37% of VTCs.
Private trainers tend to concentrate on low cost fields, such as ICT, business subjects and languages.
The regulatory environment for NPTPs is relatively favorable. All vocational training institutions are considered equal, both public and private, and are eligible for financial incentives such as land, premises and credit. NPTPs can set their own fee levels, provided they inform the responsible state authority. They go through the same registration screening as public institutions, and must have a board of directors which selects the manager of the institution. NPTPs must follow the same framework curriculum as public institutions. There is no requirement for a set number or percentage of scholarships for needy students.
The government is counting on NPTPs to provide the bulk of increased enrolment. According to the draft Vocational Training Development Strategy 2011-2020, NPTPs will enrol 60% of total students by 2020, of which 30% will be trained in enterprise production lines.
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