Directive No. 05/2002/CT-BNN on enhancing vocational training for farmers

DIRECTIVE
On Promoting Vocational Training for Farmers

Rural laborers engaged in agriculture and traditional crafts number approximately 29 million people. New farmers have been provided with some new knowledge through the agricultural and forestry extension system at various levels. The majority of farmers lack access to new science and technology, education to improve their skills, professions, and management organization, thus leading to low crop and livestock productivity, inefficient use of agricultural machinery and equipment, unappealing handcrafted products, low product refinement, and weak competitiveness. In response to these issues, the Government has required the implementation of comprehensive measures to develop rural human resources, including vocational training programs for rural residents (Resolution No. 09/2000/NQ-CP dated June 15, 2000 of the Government) and has instructed vocational schools to increase short-term training programs (about 80%) alongside their regular long-term vocational training programs (Decision No. 50/1999/QĐ-TTg dated March 24, 1999 of the Prime Minister).

In recent years, to enhance training effectiveness, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed schools to provide training tailored to serve key economic programs of the sector and to open new training fields serving rural areas such as social forestry, rural electromechanics, small business owners, agricultural officers, village budgets, rural water supply and sanitation... The Ministry has also directed schools to integrate training tasks with agricultural and forestry extension work (Directive No. 15 NN-TCCB/CT dated August 11, 1997) and to intensify short-term vocational training for farmers (Report from the training conference organized by the Ministry in Da Nang and Vung Tau), achieving a ratio of short-term training at 14% of the annual long-term vocational training quota.

To further promote vocational training and skill enhancement for farmers, aiming to increase scale, quality, and effectiveness, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development instructs schools and relevant units to implement the following requirements:

1. Schools need to organize summaries and draw lessons to improve understanding and effectiveness of vocational training and skill enhancement for farmers.

2. When developing annual vocational training plans, vocational high schools and technical schools should not only plan regular training but also include short-term vocational training plans for farmers. Schools must survey the learning needs of farmers in their respective areas and develop appropriate training and enhancement plans. Universities, colleges, and management cadres should have specific plans to actively participate in farmer training, particularly in training cooperative managers, agricultural enterprise managers, and primary school teachers.

3. Schools must closely follow the policies of local Party organizations, proactively coordinate with provincial Departments of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Extension Centers, Farmers' Associations, Horticultural Associations, and agricultural cooperatives to organize training classes for farmers according to specific training contracts.

4. The Personnel and Organization Department, Finance and Accounting Department, Planning and Master Planning Department shall study the funding for farmer vocational training, related regulations, and policies, and propose them to the Ministries of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (General Department of Vocational Training), Finance, Education and Training, and Planning and Investment for assistance. The Extension Center shall guide provincial Extension Centers to support funding for schools organizing classes through responsibility contracts.

Upon receipt of this directive, the Ministry requests that principals of schools and heads of relevant units promptly and strictly implement it to meet the new phase's demands for farmer vocational training./.