Predatory banks and insurance companies targeted

More talent to be nurtured in social service sector

Nurturing more talent in the social service sector was the focus of a guideline issued by the Ministry of Education and six other departments on Wednesday.

The guideline, which was released on the ministry's website, defined the social service sector as including domestic service, elderly care and child nursing-all fields in which professionals with expertise are in great demand.

The guideline said universities and schools should nurture a large number of highly skilled professionals by 2022 to ease talent shortages in the sector.

It asks related authorities to design educational programs in social service for undergraduates, graduates and vocational school students.

The authorities should also take measures to increase the number of students majoring in social service. They should encourage vocational schools to set up educational programs in a number of areas, including nursing, domestic service management, elderly care management and rehabilitation.

Vocational schools in each province should offer courses in domestic service and elderly care, the guideline says, and there should be at least one university in each province offering such education to undergraduates.

The authorities should also support social service professionals in seeking further education and studying for related master's degrees.