Career training centers in the various districts of Ho Chi Minh City are presently facing a shortfall of students and many are now letting out their space to cover expenses.
A staff member from the Career Training Center in District 6 said that earlier years saw over 700 students registering for training courses. However, this year the number has dwindled to only 400.
Nguyen Van Bay, deputy director of the center says the numbers of students enrolling has reduced by 15-17 percent each year.
Mr. Bay said that one of the reasons for this was the competition from private job training centers, which are attracting the young students. Besides, vocational schools, colleges and even universities offer short-term job training courses.
At the Career Training Center in District 11, most equipment and machinery was out-dated. At the motorcycle repair class, there are only old motorcycles for practice, while at the information technology class all computers have low configuration and out-dated software. Several classrooms at the center are now rented to a nearby college.
The director of another establishment said most of the centers were short of equipment and machinery or with inadequate facilities.
Representatives from several centers said that their main income came from exams held for people trying to get a motorcycle-driving license or by renting their space.
Nguyen Van Bay, deputy director of the Career Training Center in District 6 said that centers operating ineffectively should merge with each other to avoid waste.
Relevant authorities should create advantageous conditions for centers to coordinate with businesses to train and supply workers for industrial zones and export processing zones.
Nguyen Thanh Hiep from the HCMC Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs says the most important thing is that the centers themselves should be proactive to reform and seek ways to develop instead of depending on State budgets.
