Directive No. 01/2002/CT-BLDTBXH on the tasks for the vocational training sector in the 2002-2003 academic year

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the academic year 2002-2003 tasks of the vocational training sector

During the academic year 2001-2002, the entire vocational training sector made significant efforts and competitive achievements to celebrate the Ninth National Party Congress and the election of the Eleventh National Assembly. We successfully fulfilled the academic year's tasks, enrolling and training 887,000 people, exceeding the quota set by the National Assembly and increasing by 12% compared to the academic year 2000-2001; the network of vocational training institutions developed strongly, establishing 14 new vocational schools in areas without such schools and many vocational centers in districts and counties to meet the demand for expanding the scale of vocational training and the learning needs of young people, students, and workers; the conditions ensuring quality at many vocational training institutions were improved, enhancing the quality of vocational training; vocational training was linked with employment and job creation; state management of vocational training has become more systematic, with legal regulations on vocational training issued contributing to restoring and developing the vocational training cause under new conditions.

However, we still need to continue investing in development both in scale and quality of vocational training to meet the demand for human resources with good professional qualities and skills to implement industrialization and modernization of the country.

The academic year 2002-2003, an academic year with the task of improving the quality and effectiveness of vocational training; developing scale (both mass and elite); implementing social equity in vocational training as stated in the Conclusion of the Sixth Plenary Session of the Ninth Central Committee of the Party, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs proposes that relevant ministries, sectors, localities, vocational training management agencies at all levels, and vocational training institutions focus on directing and organizing the implementation of the following main tasks:

1. Organizing and directing the achievement and surpassing of the vocational training plan targets for 2002 set by the National Assembly (one million people, including 144,000 long-term training). To achieve these targets, each vocational training institution needs to review the progress of plan implementation, fully utilize existing capacity, supplement material facilities to reach the target.

2. Implementing the planning of the vocational school network for the period 2002-2010 approved by the Prime Minister.

- Ministries, sectors, provinces, and cities should concentrate on building and concretizing the planning and development plans for their vocational training institution networks based on adjusting the school network to fit the scale, structure of professions, and level of training; developing county-level and inter-county vocational centers in key areas and specialized crop regions, and developing vocational training.

- Vocational training institutions should develop planning and development towards standardization and modernization to gradually improve capacity, quality, and effectiveness of vocational training.

3. Implementing measures to enhance training quality.

- Reforming curricula and teaching methods: Based on the list of training professions and principles for curriculum construction, vocational training institutions should update and reform content to be consistent with production requirements and the labor market; implement the development of modular vocational training programs to create connectivity within the system and facilitate learners. Emphasize reforming teaching methods to promote the initiative and proactivity of students, strengthen political ideological education, and moral education for students. Schools under the General Vocational Training Project and Vocational Training Project need to organize the development of modular vocational training programs and learning materials corresponding to different training levels to be implemented from the academic year 2003-2004.

- Enhancing the quality of teachers and managers: Implementing Directive No. 18/2001/CT-TTg dated August 27, 2001, of the Prime Minister on urgent measures to build the teacher workforce of the national education system. Vocational training institutions should immediately arrange the rational use of the current teacher workforce; actively organize updates and training in new professional knowledge, technology, and production realities to improve pedagogical capabilities and gradually standardize the teacher workforce. Develop plans to supplement the teacher workforce (especially for new professions) according to current standards.

- Effectively utilizing state budget investments, target programs, self-owned capital, and international cooperation projects to upgrade training equipment, particularly focusing on ensuring sufficient equipment and materials for students to practice occupational skills.

- Developing standards for vocational schools and centers, evaluation criteria for quality assessment, and reforming methods of assessing student learning outcomes and discipline.

4. Continuing to improve the management structure of vocational training from central to local levels, enhancing the effectiveness of state management of vocational training.

Labor Departments need to improve the vocational training department, adequately staffing capable personnel for vocational training management. Management agencies and vocational training institutions at all levels should review and supplement professional management procedures and regulations. Strengthen inspections and supervision of vocational training activities.

5. Continuing to promote the "Teach Well - Learn Well" competition movement in vocational training institutions. Improving the quality and effectiveness of student skill competitions, teaching demonstrations, and self-made teaching equipment competitions at various levels. Organizing participation in the ASEAN Skills Competition IV in Indonesia and preparing for the Fifth Competition in 2004 in Vietnam.

To successfully fulfill the tasks of the academic year 2002-2003, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs requests relevant ministries, sectors, provincial People's Committees, and centrally-administered city People's Committees to direct, inspect, and urge vocational training management agencies and vocational training institutions under their jurisdiction to effectively implement the above tasks.

This directive shall be disseminated throughout the vocational training sector from central to local management agencies and all staff and teachers of vocational training institutions for thorough understanding and implementation.