VietNamNet Bridge
Dec. 29th, 2009

With the year-end approaching spare a thought for hard working students who will have neither the time nor money to visit their families.

Students have many reasons to take part time jobs. Some want to earn money to cover study expenses, or help parents out - while others want to work just because they want to gain experience for future jobs

Ngoc Duong, a third-year student of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanity, said the first day he entered the university lecture hall was also the day he began working to earn a living. Duong has to work to earn money for his study, because his mother, a fish seller, and his father, a wounded war veteran, cannot earn enough money to cover his expenses.

In the examination season, after serving at a rice shop until 11 pm, Duong visits an Internet café to prepare papers for the next morning because he does not have a computer of his own. Sometimes he returns home early the next morning with only time to change his clothes before lectures.

Duong says he stayed in HCM City to work during the previous Tet holiday. He missed home and his parents so much. “When I saw people hurrying to supermarkets to purchase goods for Tet party, I felt really sorry for myself and I really wanted to give up everything to return home,” he said.

Dang Hung, a fourth year student of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanity, said he has stayed in the city for the last four Tets. “Why don’t I return home on Tet holiday? Because it would cost about the same as food for a whole month.”

Unfortunately, this year-end “working season” coincides with the examination season. However, Thanh Phong, a fourth year student of HCM City University of Agriculture and Forestry, said that despite having a lot of books to read to prepare for exams, he still cannot take time off from work. Therefore, Phong is reduced to studying in his lunch hour and his limited free time in order to pass exams

According to job centers in HCM City, the demand for part time jobs from students is higher than previous years. Students are especially fond of jobs such as receptionist, sales at exhibitions and home decorating.

However, overwork outside of college is being blamed for many students’ poor academic performance.

Nguyen Van Sang, deputy director of the Youth Job Centre, said the centre can offer jobs with a high income of 300,000 dong a day, therefore, it has attracted many students.

“The high income requires hard work. However, students still want to work. They need the money,” Sang said.

He added that recently, some 200-250 students go to his centre to seek jobs every day, while there were some 100 only previously.

The HCM City Student Support Centre has also reported a two-fold increase in the number of students seeking work.

According to Sang, some 20 enterprises register their employment opportunities and 400-500 students are find new jobs every day.

Quach Hai Dat, director of Student Support Centre said his centre plans to give 3,000 jobs to students during Tet.