According to statistics, 93% of people with disabilities in Vietnam do not attend formal vocational education and training institutions, and 68% of people with disabilities over 15 years old are currently unemployed. The inability to attract people with disabilities to participate in the labour market and develop their full potential causes Vietnam to lose about 3% of GDP every year. Vocational education and training (VET) can be a suitable approach to offer people with disabilities the opportunity to improve their skills and get ready for the labour market.
Through the project “Promoting industry linkages in vocational education and training” under the Aus4Skills program, the Australian Government continues to encourage partner VET colleges and enterprises to develop and use inclusive skills in Logistics and related sectors, with special emphasis on gender equality, disability and community inclusion. Recently, with the support of the Australian Government through the Aus4Skills Program, the Vietnam Disability Research and Capacity Development (DRD) organised the post-course symposium on “VET educators supporting students with disabilities” for the fourth time on April 26, 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Participants in the course
At the course, 32 students from 18 VET colleges, 01 logistics association, 03 businesses and 03 organisations of people with disabilities raised their awareness of people with disabilities and the importance of inclusion; understood clearly the challenges and barriers that people with disabilities encounter in education and life; and helped participants create group action plans matching the conditions of their organisations. This special course includes a student orientation, online learning through the e-learning platform, a discussion and tutorial for the application projects, and a post-course symposium.
With the dedicated guidance of lecturers from the DRD, the students have designed and implemented projects applying very practical and new knowledge and skills such as handbook of technology applications to support people with disabilities in their study and work, renovation of toilets for students with disabilities at Thu Duc College of Technology, survey on formal VET for people with disabilities, raising awareness of job opportunities (Data processing) at businesses for students with disabilities, and support activities for visually impaired learners.
Representatives from participating schools receive course certificate
The success of the course is also demonstrated through these projects, contributing to appropriate adjustments for people with disabilities and bringing benefits to the community. Through the course, teachers and students at Thu Duc College of Technology convinced the Board of Management to issue a decision on a plan to support students with disabilities currently studying at the College. Teachers and students at Thu Duc College of Technology then successfully built and renovated two restrooms for people with disabilities, using solely the College’s budget.
Speaking at the post-course symposium, Mr. Dominic Balasurya, Economic Counselor, Australian Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City reaffirms Australia’s support students with disabilities in Vietnam to receive appropriate and high-quality formal education
Mr. Dao Trong Do, Director General of Department of Continuing Training, Directorate of Vocational Education and Training is also a participant of the course. He said, “This course gave me the opportunity to learn about disability inclusion experience to build inclusive training curriculum for disadvantaged groups, including students with disabilities.”
In addition, in the research report on the Aus4Skills Program impacts on partner organizations, improving diversity and inclusion in policies and practices was highly appreciated through the sharing of many leaders. “Ho Chi Minh City College of Transportation has built a logistics module for students with disabilities. We have also issued enabling policies to support them. Events are organised to raise awareness among teachers and students. Important messages about diversity and inclusion have been shared, especially during the enrollment period to encourage students with disabilities”, shared Leader of Ho Chi Minh City College of Transportation.
Through the Aus4Skills support, the number of enrolled students with disabilities at partner VET colleges also went up significantly with 17 students in 2022, increased to 40 students in 2023. The Aus4Skills Program has been working to promote equal access to VET for all, raising awareness and supporting to remove existing barriers for people with disabilities in the VET environment, thereby contributing to solving the lack of opportunities to access formal VET for people with disabilities in Vietnam.
