A VND25,980 billion project to train 1 million rural labourers annually during the 2010-2020 period has had to lower its initial target after two years of operation.
Statistics from the Directorate of Vocational Training showed that in the first half of 2012, the country only trained about 130,000 rural workers, (27.1 percent of its yearly target) and 485,000 trainees later, of whom more than 350,000 finished their courses by the end of the year.
At a recent conference on the project’s implementation, participants raised questions as to whether some localities were just focused on the quantity rather than the quality of vocational training.
Some argued that the vocational training has not paid off well as expected after three years of implementation.
They said many rural workers are now capable of farming as required, have decided to quit their jobs for lack of outlets for their produce.
Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ngoc Phi said there is no doubt that vocational training has failed to cater to market demand. So he insisted that the training of rural workers should meet their own requirements in the long run.
In addition, local authorities should reorganise production areas and markets for rural workers and service providers.
Phi admitted that vocational training is not yet focused on developing bio-and high-tech agriculture or traditional crafts.
In some provinces, not a few rural workers just register for training allowances, often skip classes, he said.
An inspection team from his Ministry recently found the training of rural workers involved in growing coffee, fixing agricultural machines and raising silkworms in Lam Dong province has been reduced from three months as scheduled to one month.
To achieve the target of training 600,000 rural workers, Phi stressed the need to improve the quality and quantity of enrolments, especially when many students prefer to go to university or college.
Therefore, it is necessary to raise public awareness about the importance of training rural workers in the process of international integration as they all need special skills or knowledge to work in the agricultural, traditional crafts and services sectors.
Vocational training for rural workers
A VND25,980 billion project to train 1 million rural labourers annually during the 2010-2020 period has had to lower its initial target after two years of operation.
Source: VOV
