Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen.

In May 2014, the Prime Minister approved the operation of 45 quality vocational training schools initiated by the MoLISA, following the passage of the 2012-2020 vocational development strategy in April 2012. 

In June 2014, the MoLISA embarked on the project by inviting ministries, agencies and parties concerned to outline action plans, she said, adding that it also submitted a vocational training improvement scheme to the government. 

Apart from bringing in 20 sets of curricula from advanced countries and providing training for teachers, the ministry has partnered with Australia to train and grant certifications to trainees. 

About placing order for occupational training service, Chuyen said a guideline on its procedures is expected to be passed by the government by this December. In the meantime, a pilot model is in the works, and 7,000 out of 12,000 trainees have graduated from 39 kinds of vocational courses signed by the General Directorate of Vocational Training, she revealed. 

Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan, in his reply to concern about the excess of teachers and shortage of workers, corrected that the country runs short of teachers and skilled labourers, but has incompetent workforce in spare. 

According to him, the ministry is focusing on matching trained skills with job market needs by requiring the presence of businesses and scientists, even those from abroad, in universities, thereby making changes to curricula up to international standard, accelerating technological transfer and international cooperation. 

It is encouraging schools to increase the number of teachers and ramp up infrastructure for scientific research and other activities, which he said, has seen initial progresses. 

He also presented updates on the adjustment of scales in in-service and distance training over the past three years as well as the end to distance training on the pedagogical field and master and doctorate training in unofficial locations.-VNA