The agriculture and rural development ministry has approved a plan to provide vocational training to 1.4 million rural labourers over the next four years.

At least 80 per cent of labourers should have stable jobs or earn higher income in their current jobs after training, the ministry has estimated.

While one million labourers will undergo a three-month primary vocational training, around 400,000 will receive intermediate- and college-level training.

The training cost for primary levels will be VNĐ2 trillion (US$88.6 million). Of this, VNĐ1.1 trillion ($48.7 million) will be allocated from the National Target Programme on New Rural Development; the remaining funds will come from local authorities and other sources.

The ministry said the target group includes labourers involved in agriculture restructuring and new-style rural area buildings, those who work in farms, cooperatives and enterprises related to farmers, the disabled, the disadvantaged households and women. 

Vocational training will focus on technical and management skills in cultivation, husbandry, fishing, fish farming, salt processing and salt production. There will also be programmes on restructuring agricultural production, adapting to climate change and addressing maritime environment pollution.

Every locality will have to select appropriate occupations related to large-scale agricultural production, chain production, high-tech products and food safety.

Pilot training courses will be suggested in key production areas, and the vocational training curriculum will be revised to suit the demands of the labour market. Teachers at vocational training centres will also get to do courses to improve their knowledge.

VNS