Vocational schools offer training in new skills

Most of the latter are likely to apply for vocational and technical colleges and secondary vocational schools, said Le Hoai Nam, deputy director of the department.

Enrolment in technical and vocational education has steadily increased in recent years, according to the official.

Vocational schools have invested heavily in infrastructure and made teaching reforms  to meet the demand of students.

Fee incentives  they offer also make them more appealing to students.

The city has 57 vocational and technical colleges, 64 secondary vocational schools and 272 vocational training centres.

Vocational and technical colleges are expected to enrol 45,000 students this year.

At the intermediate level, secondary vocational schools are expected to enrol another 36,000 students, while vocational training centres are expected to enrol 295,800 others.

New occupations

Many vocational schools have started new courses to meet the demands of the labour market.

The Bach Khoa Secondary Vocational School in HCM City has this year begun a beauty care course and expects 200 enrolments.

The Bach Khoa Sai Gon College is this year offering 150 seats in English, Chinese and Japan language courses, part of 17 courses for 540 students.

Hoang Van Phuc, rector of the college, told Nguoi Lao Dong (Labourer) newspaper that with the economic fallout of COVID-19 worsening, enrolment is likely to drop this year.

Vocational and technical colleges and secondary vocational schools began taking in students in March.