Model 9+: Opening many paths for students after secondary school

Hai Duong Vocational College conducts admission procedures for the first batch of 2022 for more than 400 students of the 9+ program (photo provided by the school)

Early access to the labor market

On July 27, over 400 students who had just graduated from junior high school were excited about their first classes at Hai Duong Vocational College. They were all not admitted or did not register to take the 10th grade entrance exam for the 2022-2023 school year.

Many students have learned and shared that studying at the 9+ level (intermediate level) has many benefits. In 3 years, students study both culture and vocational training. After graduation, they have a high school diploma equivalent to a regular high school diploma, and have early access to the labor market.

Vu Trung Ha, who just graduated from Tuan Viet Secondary School (Kim Thanh), is studying industrial electricity at the 9+ level here. He shared: "I know that I have a hard time passing the 10th grade, so I didn't take the exam. After 3 years of studying here, I have both a high school diploma and a vocational college diploma. I will soon go to work and have an income to help my parents," Ha said.

Ho Dinh Duc (born in 2004) studied at Hai Duong College of Tourism and Industry. While his peers were busy registering for university admission, he was accepted to work at Ford Vietnam Company Limited with a starting salary of about 9-10 million VND/month. "In my opinion, the most important thing for 9+ vocational students is to study with effort and passion for the profession. From there, they will have the motivation to strive," Duc said.

Sharing the same opinion as many other parents, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong in Kinh Mon town shared: "For me, entering grade 10 of high school is not the only path for students after middle school."

Mr. Phuong still encouraged his son to take the recent 10th grade entrance exam. Knowing his son's academic ability, he was not surprised when he failed the exam. Through many channels, Mr. Phuong went directly to Hai Duong Vocational College to learn and soon registered his son to study welding. "I did not put pressure on my son. Vocational training is still an open path for him to enter life. I was a bit worried because he was still young, but seeing his determination, the family was reassured," said Mr. Phuong.

Early completion of enrollment target

This year, Hai Duong Vocational College continues to recruit 600 students for the 9+ system. As of August 3, the school has recruited nearly 500 students, an increase of about 50% compared to the same period last year.

Teacher Pham Van An, Head of the School's Training Department, said that this year's enrollment will end earlier than last year. The school has just received approval from the Provincial People's Council to invest nearly 70 billion VND to complete facilities, purchase training equipment, and meet the demand for highly skilled labor.

The school currently has 46 lecturers who directly teach and meet national vocational skills standards. According to Mr. An, in the coming time, the school will continue to recruit highly qualified lecturers, focusing on strong and trend-oriented professions such as electricity, metal cutting, welding, sewing, information technology, etc.

This year, Hai Duong College of Tourism and Industry will enroll 600 students in the 9+ program. By mid-July, the school had reached its enrollment target, ahead of schedule.

According to Mr. Vu Xuan Kien, Vice Principal of the school, the school is training in the direction of applying information technology and digital transformation. The school is also deploying training management software, through which students and parents can log in to grasp their entire learning process such as learning results, class schedules, exam schedules, re-exam schedules, tuition fees, rewards and discipline...

According to Mr. Kien and Mr. An, this year, the enrollment work is favorable because the post-secondary education stream in schools is better than in previous years. "The 9+ model helps students develop an industrial style, form vocational skills right at school, solve the need for early employment for students, and at the same time create a quality labor source in the province," said Mr. An.

These two schools are also cooperating with 30-40 enterprises in and outside the province; focusing on linking training with job creation for students after graduation. The schools also arrange cars to pick up and drop off students from far away. Many enterprises come to recruit workers right at the school. Many students have jobs right at the following LLCs: Ford Vietnam, Sumidenso Vietnam, Makalot Vietnam Garment, Tinh Loi Garment, Haivina... The employment rate of graduates from the above schools is 90% or more.

THE ANH