NA delegate proposes special mechanisms to attract human resources for agriculture

At the discussion session on the draft Resolution stipulating several special and superior mechanisms and policies aimed at creating breakthroughs in education and training development, National Assembly delegate (NA delegate), Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan (Hanoi Delegation), appreciated the drafting body's efforts in proposing numerous innovative, modern, and highly feasible solutions.

Prof. Lan noted that the draft at this time reflects a clear mindset of innovation, from mechanisms for human resource development to the design of programs and policies for science and technology.

Important reforms in human resource development and educational programs

According to the delegate, the mechanisms for human resource development are designed more flexibly when the Directors of the Departments of Education and Training are granted increased autonomy in staff management, and vocational as well as higher-education institutions are allowed expanded autonomy in personnel. In addition, teacher remuneration policies are completed in a more practical direction, with preferential allowances ranging from 70% to 100% and a mechanism allowing schools to autonomously allocate additional income. "This is an important reform step, addressing long-standing obstacles and enhancing the status and livelihoods of educators," she emphasized.

The draft also introduces many improvements in the development of educational programs and services, including the streamlined adoption of advanced international curricula, a phased plan for free textbooks, and tuition exemptions for the subject of national defense and security education. According to the delegate, these policies are human-centered, reduce the financial burden on learners, and align with the requirements of international integration.

Regarding science, technology, and innovation, the draft resolution permits capital contributions through intellectual property, the establishment of spin-off enterprises, expanded cooperation with businesses, and the prioritization of investment and land resources for educational institutions. These are key elements that enable universities to develop into centers of innovation and gain additional resources for sustainable development.

Policy gap for the agricultural, forestry, and fishery sectors

While highly valuing the draft, NA delegate Nguyen Thi Lan assumed that there remains a noteworthy policy gap, particularly concerning human resources for agriculture and other essential fields that are struggling to attract students.

She pointed out that while the draft provides exceptional priority for culture, arts, healthcare, and several other specialized fields, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, which are pillars of the economy and national food security, still lack commensurate support mechanisms.

Many core sectors such as soil science, crop science, livestock production, plant protection, agricultural economics and business, rural development, agricultural extension, and disaster prevention, as well as fisheries, forestry, post-harvest technology, and water resources engineering, are finding it extremely difficult to attract students, despite strong demand from society and industry. The main reasons stem from the demanding nature of the work, unattractive income, and the lack of sufficiently strong incentive policies.

The delegate noted that many countries, such as South Korea, Singapore, Israel, Australia, and the EU, have addressed this problem through targeted scholarships, job guarantees, ordered training programs, professional allowances, close cooperation with universities, and rebranding the image of the sector. When policies are robust and long-term, fields that were once unattractive can still attract large numbers of students.

Based on this reality, Ms. Lan proposed that the Resolution should immediately include mechanisms such as targeted scholarships, sector-specific preferential credit, ordered training, increased investment in laboratories and training models, and strengthened cooperation between universities and businesses to ensure job placement for graduates.

Agriculture is a pillar; human resources must be given top priority

Another issue emphasized by the delegate is the lack of mechanisms to forecast labor demand by sector. She pointed out the current gap between supply and demand. Specifically, many fields attract large numbers of students, yet the labor market cannot absorb them fully, while essential sectors such as food security, resource management, disaster response, and sustainable agriculture face a severe shortage of high-quality personnel.

The delegate cited the experiences of the EU, South Korea, and Singapore, where human resource forecasting systems help adjust enrollment effectively and align resources closely with development needs. She proposed that the Government be tasked with developing and periodically publishing such forecasts as a basis for training planning.

NA Deputy Nguyen Thi Lan emphasized that a Resolution with a long-term vision and strong innovations will provide a critical foundation for breakthroughs in education and training while ensuring high-quality human resources for the country, especially in agriculture, which serves as a pillar of the economy.