The answer, according to Nguoi lao dong newspaper, is that the Mekong Delta is both deficient and redundant in the labor force. The answer, according to Nguoi lao dong newspaper, is that the Mekong Delta is both deficient and redundant in the labor force. The Mekong Delta lacks skilled workers, while it has an excess of unskilled workers.

The headquarter of Can Tho University

Experts point out that problems still exist in applying technical methods and technology to production in the Mekong Delta, while human resources still cannot meet the requirements for the region’s development. Experts emphasize that in order to develop the Mekong Delta economy, it is not only necessary to invest in infrastructure, transportation, science, and technology, but also in the workforce.

The quality of the workforce remains low

With a population of 18 million people, 22 percent of the total population of Vietnam, the Mekong Delta clearly has an abundant population as a resource. However, the quality of the Mekong workforce remains low, with the percentage of unskilled workers as high as 83.25 percent, higher than the national average of 74.6 percent. With such a high percentage of unskilled workers, the Mekong Delta ranks seventh out of eight among the regions of Vietnam.

Currently only approximately 20 percent of industrial workers have high professional abilities and high production specialization, and 17 percent of skilled workers immediately join the production process.

Ten years ago, the Mekong Delta only had one university, Can Tho University. Nowadays, the region has eleven universities and one branch of the Khanh Hoa-based Nha Trang Aquaculture University located in Kien Giang province, and 27 junior colleges (which provide three-year training programs) and vocational schools ( which provide two-year training programs).

However, only Can Tho University has enough material facilities and permanent teaching staff, while the other schools all face numerous difficulties.

A large problem exists since the training curricula of the schools are all nearly the same, without specific characteristics or distinct advantages. That, according to experts, is also a reason leading to the overabundance and inefficiency of the region’s labor force.

20 percent of agricultural laborers lack jobs

A report released recently by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids, and Social Affairs showed that nearly 20 percent of agricultural laborers lack jobs.

According to the Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc, although the Mekong Delta is rich in human resources potential, the intellectual standards of people in the region remain low. In the Red River Delta, nearly 30 out of every 100 students who finish high school continue studying at the university level, while the figure is only 14 out of 100 in the Mekong Delta.

Experts stress that together with the process of modernization and industrialization, the Mekong Delta needs to pay appropriate attention to developing education and training in the region.

In fact, in the last few years, the Government’s investment in education in the Mekong Delta has been steadily increasing. The number of education programs allocated to the Mekong Delta has been increasing year after year. The network of schools and classrooms has been increasing rapidly, allowing more and more students to attend school. The number of university and junior college students is now 95,653, an increase of 28.6 percent since 2005.

Local authorities have been urged to speed up the development of educational institutions in the region. According to official plans, Can Tho University will be developed into a key national university, while other universities will be expanded.

Source: Nguoi lao dong