Vietnam plans $200 million for Central Highlands’ education development in 2007

Source: Vietnam News Agency

An amount of more than VND3.2 trillion (roughly $200 million) will be earmarked to further develop education in Central Highlands provinces in 2007, according to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET).

The capital, which will gradually increase to nearly VND5.6 trillion ($350 million) by 2010, will focus on comprehensively improving the quality of general education and vocational training, and helping local schools gradually meet national education standards.

The ministry will continue developing the scale and network of schools at all levels and areas, focusing on consolidating and improving education quality of ethnic boarding-schools in an attempt to prompt all local children of schooling age to go to school, thus helping the region reach its target of making basic secondary education universal by 2010. The teaching of ethnic minority languages will also be gradually implemented at local schools.

The investment will also prioritize developing higher education in the region, focusing on education, healthcare, culture and art, agriculture and forestry, industry and construction, as well as expanding the network of vocational training schools and community-based colleges.

Additionally, the government will strive to encourage investment from all sources, both local and international, to implement a number of credit projects for infrastructure building and for training teaching staff.

During the 2001-05 period, the region recorded a relatively high annual growth rate of enrollment in secondary to higher education classes in comparison with the national average. The number of local pupils enrolling annually in junior and senior secondary schools, and colleges, rose 6.62%, 12% and 1.6%, respectively.

Notably, nearly 74,500 Central Highlanders have been provided with vocational training, helping to increase the number of trained workers in the region to 11.3% in 2005 from 8.9%, five years ago.