VietNamNet Bridge – After he passed his university entrance examinations last year, Vu Duc Duy of Mekong Delta Can Tho City had a choice.

He could enroll in the fashion design faculty of HCM University of Technology or the Vinatex Vocational College of Economics and Technology. Somewhat surprisingly, Duy chose the latter.

However, Duy said his choice was rational. He said it would take him half the time to graduate, and it has been easier for students of vocational training schools to get jobs.

In April, Duy attended a skills contest for students of vocational schools, knowing that doing well in the competition would increase his chances of finding a good job after graduating.

Nguyen Anh Tinh of central Binh Thuan Province, meanwhile, felt he did not have the capability to do well at the competitive university entrance exams and get admission to a reputed university. So he chose to join the Cao Thang Vocational College's electrical engineering faculty and obtained a diploma. He has found work after graduation and is happy with his choice.

Huynh Van Hiep, deputy head of the Nhan Dao Vocational School, said that enterprises and companies need a large number of vocational school graduates.

Students who finish the ninth grade can continue their learning at vocational schools, Hiep said, adding that it is easier to find jobs after graduating because their skills are better. However, many young people do not want to know this and are not interested in joining vocational schools, he added.

Phan The Nhan, head of the HCM City Vocational College of Technology's mechanical engineering faculty, said that the average salary for graduates of vocational schools is nearly VND6 million (over US$280). He said enterprises tend to pay higher salaries to graduates of vocational schools than those from universities for the same job because the former have better skills, having received more practical training.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, chief executive officer of Bien Hoa-Sai Gon Au Co Obstetrics Hospital said that 60 per cent of the 100 or so new staff they recruited last year were graduates of vocational schools.

Another statistic from vocational schools and colleges in the city shows that the number of graduates from their technical faculties who find jobs is as high as 90 per cent.

Tran Anh Tuan, standing deputy head of the Centre of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Information, said that the city needs 128,000- 130,000 employees each year.

Of these, 30 per cent are for university graduates and post-graduates. The rest are for manual labourers and skilled workers as well as technicians who graduate from vocational schools and colleges.

According to the center, the city needs 25,000 workers next month. Forty per cent of the demand is for skilled workers and technicians; and most of these jobs are in marketing, IT, engineering, construction and nursing.

Source: VNS