LookAtVietnam – While the Ministry of Education and Training reports that Vietnam still lacks around 40,000 teachers, many suitably qualified graduates still cannot find jobs.

Phong Vu is still waiting for a job after two years

However, Thuy is yet to receive even a reply. She and her aging parents have been living off small rice fields. Meanwhile, the sum of eight million dong Thuy borrowed to keep studying is still burdening her.

Thuy decided to go to seek a job in HCM City. She is now working as a garment worker for a company in Go Vap district.

“I feel sad because the 16 years of studying at school and then at university have been profitless,” she said.

Nguyen Hang Phong Vu from Phu Yen province, said he decided to study music at college because he heard schools were lacking music teachers. However, he is still waiting for a job after two years.

“I have no job to do. For the time being, I have to cultivate rice field with my parents,” he said.

According to the Phu Yen Education and Training Department, in 2009, the province received 458 applications for high school teachers. However, only 49 teachers were chosen.

Meanwhile, the Dong Thap Education and Training Department said the department received 1,900 applications earlier this school year, but has recruited 1,150 only.

“We prioritized the candidates who live in Dong Thap province and have high graduation marks. We only needed 20-50 percent of the applicants for secondary and high schools,” said Nguyen Hoang Nhi from Dong Thap education department.

Luong Van Soong, director of the Ha Giang Education and Training Department, says hundreds of teachers have been found to be unable to meet requirements for teaching, while only a few can be retrained.

Dinh Thi Lan Duyen, deputy chairwoman of Hai Ba Trung District’s People’s Committee in Hanoi also said tens of secondary school foreign language teachers are not able to teach, but they are not old enough to retire. Meanwhile, the district needs to recruit more foreign language teachers.

VietNamNet/TT