The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) is proposing the government transfer the management of vocational training systems, currently managed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, to MoET. Mr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh, the Director of MoET's Professional Education Department, spoke with VET about the proposal.

Mr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh, the Director of MoET's Professional Education Department.

■ What are reasons behind the proposal?

Vietnam is actively integrating regionally and globally, which requires unity in management and in standards, mechanisms and policies in order to have the strength to cope with the challenges.

In terms of the quality of the workforce and low labor productivity, the percentage of workers without technical training stood at 80 per cent in 2015, which hampers the process of economic restructuring and promoting technological innovation and integration.

The management of vocational training systems in our country has had overlaps for nearly 20 years.

The State and the people have invested a large amount of money to develop vocational and national education system management from pre-school to college, including vocational secondary colleges managed by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

This leads to difficulties in enrollments at vocational schools and a lack of overall planning in development and uniformity.

The parallel management between the two agencies belonging to the government creates inefficiency and the need for quality human resources is not met and this hinders global integration and runs counter to the policy of the Party and the government.

Strong change is needed in the management of vocational education to overcome the limitations and challenges.

■ How will this proposal be implemented?

In its role as manager of education, MoET makes proposals for the Prime Minister to consider.

These are problems that need be considered carefully, with research and discussions and the seeking of public opinion.

It will be sometime soon because the new National Assembly (NA) will gather in July and the new government structure will be set up. We can wait until then.

■ How long until the proposal is implemented?

I believe it will be soon, because we need to comply with Party and government regulations on administrative reforms, and each ministry must act faster with the new NA gathering in July.

The action plan for the proposal could be mapped out by then.

■ What will be the effects of the proposal?

I hope that once the proposal is implemented it will reduce the shortcomings mentioned often by NA delegates. The country’s education system will be improved.

■ Is the parallel education management at present the cause of Vietnam’s unemployment situation?

The reasons for Vietnam’s unemployment are economic growth and slow economic restructuring leading to job creation being low, as well as matters relating to salaries and working conditions.

But the overlap in State management of education and training is one of the most important reasons in the quality of employees trained in vocational education institutions not meeting the needs of the labor market.