Vietnam must improve the quality of its upper secondary schools andvocational training to fill the rapid growth of medium-skill employmentopportunities under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) to be introducedat the end of 2015.

The recommendation was made in the“ASEAN Community 2015: Managing integration for better jobs and sharedproperity” report, recently released by the International LabourOrganisation (ILO) in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank(ADB).

The report showed that structural changes under theAEC will heighten demand for various skills levels but particularlymedium-skill employment.

Projections indicate thatbetween 2010 and 2025 demand overall for medium-skill employment willincrease by 28 percent, compared to a 23 percent increase in low-skillemployment and 13 percent in high-skill jobs.

Gaps stillexist between the classroom skills and the workplace, said the head ofILO Vietnam Gyorgy Sziraczki, adding that it is critical to bridge thegaps and address future demands for skills though close education andbusiness cooperation coupled with business participation in thedevelopment of skills standards and training curriculum.

Otherrecommendations made by the report to help Vietnam stimulatemedium-skill employment growth include aligning economic and workforceplanning, certifying skills, and enhancing partnerships betweeneducation and training providers and the private sector.

Withprojected expansions in the garment, construction and transportationsectors, a focus on developing specific vocational competencies alongwith promoting excellence in science and engineering would help Vietnamprepare its youth for the future, the report said.-VNA