Training for demand had reaped satisfactory results with more contracts signed between the department and enterprises, he said.

For example, the Viet Nam Garment and Textile Corporation had signed an agreement to employ 60,000 trained workers each year.

But training to meet demand required vocational training schools to improve both their teaching quality and facilities.

Universities would offer vocational training courses next year and students would eventually be able to study for masters degree or doctorate of vocational training.

"Improving the quality of skilled workers is more important when Southeast Asian nations will become ASEAN common community in 2015, that means the countries can share their labourers," the associate professor said.

A scheme to renew vocational training for 2011-20 had been drafted and was intended to raise the rate of skilled workers to 55 per cent of population in the next 10 years.

Investment will be dedicated to highly-competitive vocations that serve spearhead economic sectors.

The establishment of colleges with the passing of the Vocational Training Law was another step to improve the quality of skilled workers, explained department deputy general director Cao Van Sam.

"Training must shift from a supply to demand-based approach," he said.

"It's crucial to build links between schools and enterprises."

About 250,000 graduates - the first batch from colleges after three years of study - would enter the workforce this year.

"They promise a source of skilled workers to supply for enterprises," the deputy general director said.

Ha Noi Tourism College Dean Dinh Van Dang said the school thought the raising of training quality was its vital task.

"We have improved the quality of teachers, who were trained professionally either in or out of the country," he said.

"Students who win prizes at regional or world's skills contests are offered incentives to become the school's teachers."

The dean said the college worked with tourism enterprises to design a more practical curriculum to ensure most of its trainees would be employed after graduation.

Old prejudices

Thousands of high-school graduates vie for university places via fierce entrance exams each July rather than opt for vocational training believing that a skilled worker earns neither the money nor status of a tertiary graduate.

As an anonymous Kim Lien High School, graduate, who failed entry to the Banking Academy, explained: "There was no way I could apply for a vocational training school. I just couldn't dream of becoming a worker of any type."

She was now pinning her hope on her second choice: Telecommunications.

"But firstly, I'll ask for my papers to be re-examined," she said.

"I assume that's a similar answer to most of my classmates in my situation."

But the habit is undergoing change and Vocational Training General Department's figures show that the number of students enrolled for vocational training increased three fold between 2001 and 2009.

Viet Nam now has 117 colleges, 265 vocational high schools and 850 centres offering vocational training courses and the employment rate for their graduates has reached 70 per cent.

The rise in the number of students signals success for vocational training although labour quality has yet to meet employer demand.

And of 1.7 million trainees, only 350,000 graduated from colleges or high schools that offer vocational training.

The remainder undertook short courses.

All of Viet Nam's vocational training schools are now allowed to offer their students the chance of continuing education.

Graduates from vocational high schools can enrol in colleges within their area. — VNS

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