According to the survey, around 350,000 students drop out of high school or fail the graduation exams each year. In the 2010-2011 school year, around 185,000 students passed the high school graduation exams but failed to get into universities or vocational schools. This number in the next school year was 290,000.
Spokespersons from the Professional Education Bureau under the Ministry of Education and Training said the reason is that people prefer university degrees, have little information about vocational education and the job market as well as a lack of jobs due to a slow economy. They also admitted that there is a lack of career consultancy services and support for vocational schools.
Representatives from the Can Tho Department of Education and Training said that they were in need of a master plan for training and human resources. Students must be aware that no matter what field of work they are in, if they have experience, skills and devotion then they will be respected, they emphasised. Many have proposed financial support for students who choose vocational schools, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas.
