Study the Impact of COVID-19 on Vocational Students, the Change of Studying Plan and Future Career of Vocational Students

Abstract

The spread of the COVID-19 virus greatly affects those in school due to having to adapt to distance learning both in terms of digital literacy and have suitable equipment for distance learning. Especially for those students who are studying vocational education will have to face additional challenges as most of them are believed to be students from poor families. They get extra pressure to earn money to support the family. The inability to work while studying during leads to a lack of income and this put pressure on them. There are also concerns about the risk of a stable job after graduation.

This article studies impacts/obstacles of COVID-19 to vocational students in various areas that affect changes in decision-making in education and future work. We collected data by using nonprobability sampling method through online questionnaires from vocational certificate and high vocational certificate students who were enrolled in year 2022. The data of 136 students were collected. We found that COVID-19 affects income level, the risks of finding a job after graduation and mental health of students, respectively. Students have thought of changing their courses along the way but not many have done so. Students would like to receive a short-term training. More than half of the students have changed their study plans, where the planned highest education level was reduced from the original plan before the COVID-19 outbreak. This is due to financial issues and the ineffectiveness of online learning. Moreover, students' views on the expected job type have changed from full-time to part-time and freelance work. Recommendations for vocational education to be implemented effectively, such as offering short-term review courses for students who could not work during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government sector develops a job matching system for new graduates, organize a comprehensive school guidance system, and a system to support vocational students to continue their studying at a higher level.