Career guidance is believed to be important in the new era which aims to create human resources who meet the changing requirements of the labour market. Secondary and high schools across Da Nang have completed career guidance and streamlining students for the 2021 - 2022 school year. In particular, teachers and schools play the role of career counseling for students.

Students of Da Nang Vocational College are seen in a practical vocational session. Photo: NGOC HA

The decision-making power rests with parents and students.  Such career guidance programmes designed to help students choose the right career path based on their educational and professional choices, especially providing them with useful advice on choosing the career they desire.

Mr. Pham Minh Vu, Principal of Nguyen Tri Phuong Secondary School in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District said that some of the school's students live in poverty-stricken families, especially the children of the Co Tu ethnic group. Therefore, in career counseling sessions for students, in addition to grasping their families’ livelihoods and their aspirations, the school has also cooperated with vocational schools to give consultancy to parents.

“Some students have decided to choose vocational training in accordance with their interests and recruitment needs of the labour market, and to find a job to support their families, instead of pursuing higher education, instead of pursuing higher education. However, this number is not high,” said Mr. Vu.

Similarly, Mr. Tran Dat, Principal of the Ngu Hanh Son High School, said that the school always focuses on integrating career counseling into activities, and regularly communicates with parents about their children's academic performance so that they can give proper pieces of advice to their children on their future occupational path.

According to Mr. Dat, through follow-up, some students at the school have decided to choose vocational schools with majors that attract a large amount of human resources today such as tourism, auto repair and mechanics. Vocational training is derived from the true needs and aspirations of parents and students, without any coercion”, affirmed Mr. Dat.

Mr. Mai Tan Linh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Education and Training said that, in recent years, the Da Nang government has released many policies to take care of career counseling and student streamlining.

In particular, it is worth noting that, under Plan No. 7048/KH-UBND dated October 17, 2019 of the Da Nang People's Committee on vocational counseling and student streamlining orientation in the 2019 - 2025 period, by 2025, at least 30% of secondary school graduates will study at vocational education institutions providing vocational certificates, elementary and intermediate levels.

At least 35% of high school graduates will study at vocational education institutions providing technical tertiary levels.

As for the lower secondary level, at the end of the 9th grade, students have the right to participate in vocational training institutions where they access academic and vocational courses, in accordance with their capacities.

In addition, continuing education centres also offers academic and vocational courses suitable for their students.

“The Da Nang Department of Education and Training has thoroughly instructed schools to follow the guiding documents on vocational counseling and post-secondary student streamlining. Teachers only provide career guidance and advice for students. The student sand their parents make final decisions. Teachers are not allowed to influence or affect the children's rights”, affirmed Mr. Mai Tan Linh.

Mr. Ho Viet Ha, the Rector of Da Nang Vocational College also acknowledged that the cooperation between the school and the middle and high schools in career guidance is significantly improving.

Every year, the school organises for students of middle and high schools across the city to experience the professions being trained at the school, and at the same time, coordinate with schools to give career guidance to students.

“According to our statistics, in the past five years, the percentage of secondary and high school students studying vocational training at schools has increased slightly, with the number of secondary school graduates admitted to the vocational school increasing by 10%, and that of high school ones up by 20 - 30%. However, this number is still limited. It is a need to raise awareness among parents and their children of the importance of vocational training in the coming time. Because of the fact that, many university graduates can't find jobs, and they have no choice but to work as workers or return to vocational training.

Meanwhile, many vocational school students find it easy to find jobs after graduation. It is necessary to do well the job of career guidance and streamlining so that students can choose vocational training courses in accordance with their interests and aspirations”, analysed Mr. Ha.

The majority of students finishing high school wish to have higher education level. They only go to vocational school as a last resort when they fail the exams to enter university. As a result, there is an oversupply of bachelor’s degree graduates and a shortage of skilled workers for factories because students don’t want to go to vocational school.

Reporting by NGOC HA – Translating by A.THU