In 2025, more than 80% of the 2.2 million students enrolled in vocational institutions nationwide graduated and found employment, with about 70–75% having jobs aligned with their training. On the surface, these figures suggest that vocational education is performing reasonably well and meeting a significant share of the economy’s demand for skilled labor. Why, then, does vocational training continue to be viewed as a second-choice option after university? Structural bottlenecks For decades, families have tended to prioritize university education over vocational training. The reasoning is familiar: better chances of employment after graduation, income levels sufficient for a decent living, job stability, and opportunities for advancement—benefits that vocational graduates are often perceived to achieve only to a limited extent. A university degree, despite wide disparities in quality across institutions, still offers flexibility. Graduates can change fields, pursue further study, or move into management roles. By contrast, vocational qualifications in many sectors remain narrowly tied to lower-level technical positions. With limited mobility and constrained career progression, vocational training struggles to appear as a safe long-term choice for families seeking stability. One of the most significant bottlenecks lies in student streaming and career guidance. In many high schools, career counseling is still episodic […]