World Bank steps up support for Vietnam’s higher education 

The World Bank and the State Bank of Vietnam on Thursday signed a financing agreement and related legal documents for the Higher Education Development Policy Credit valued at US$50 million.

The credit is provided by the International Development Association, the arm of the World Bank that helps the world’s poorest countries.

The program as a whole is designed to support implementation of the Vietnamese government’s higher education reform agenda. This operation aims to strengthen governance and accountability, rationalize financing, improve quality of teaching and research, and enhance transparency in financial management within the higher education sector. 

Addressing the signing ceremony, Ms. Victoria Kwakwa, the World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, said: “Further progress in  access to, and quality of education and training at all levels is critical for achieving Vietnam’s development objectives and in particular its objective to build the skills needed to raise the competitiveness of its economy.”

HCM City plans US$135 mln for pre-schools in 5 years 

Ho Chi Minh City plans to set aside about VND2,700 billion (US$135 million) for developing its pre-school system between now and 2015. 

Under the plans, the city’s government will build 760 classrooms, and train thousands of teachers, both working and new ones.

The city will ensure that 100% of under-5 children to go to school with two class sessions a day by 2013.

Among them, the local authorities will allocate priority funds in the construction of six national standard kindergartens in rural areas including Ly Nhon Commune in Can Gio District, Nhon Duc in Nha Be, Tan Nhut in Binh Chanh, Xuan Thoi Thuong in Hoc Mon, Tan Thong Hoi and Thai My in Cu Chi; and other pre-schools in 12 wards in districts consisting of 4, 6, Phu Nhuan, Go Vap, Binh Tan, Tan Phu; and in industrial and export processing zones.

In addition, the city’s government also guides the Department of Education and Training to cooperate with the Labor Union in asking industrial and export processing zones to build kindergartens for workers’ children.

Denmark to fund art education in primary schools in Vietnam 

The government of Denmark approved a fund of 3.900,000 DKK (USD692) for the promotion of art education in primary schools in Vietnam.

Pham Vu Luan, Minister of Education and Training and John Nielsen, Ambassador of Denmark December 14 signed an agreement which provides Danish support for arts education in primary schools in Vietnam  from 2011 – 2015.

An earlier pilot project implementing a new approach to arts education in six different provinces in Northern Vietnam has been tremendously successful.

Support to Arts Education in Primary Schools has brought a new learner centred approach to develop the creative skills of Vietnamese children. This method focuses on a child’s cognitive thinking and draws active participation.

The aim of the new program is to apply new methods and materials in primary schools in Vietnam and develop a focused approach towards art education in primary schools. The program would follow a national curriculum of art education in primary schools which would be more learner-focused.

The signing of the agreement comes after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed by the Vietnamese and Danish minister of education and training. The MoU signifies the broad scale of educational activities between Vietnam and Denmark.

During the signing ceremony, Mr. Pham Vu Luan expressed his pleasure with the results of the early phase of the project and hoped that this innovative approach towards teaching could be applied in other subjects in schools in future.

The Danish Ambassador John Nielsen stated that the first phase of the project had been highly successful and that he was pleased to see that the agreement added another milestone to the increasing cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark in the field of education.

HCMC to force investors to construct educational institutions 

The People’s Committee will force investors to build educational, healthcare, and entertainment facilities in a plan for new residential blocks, said Hua Ngoc Thuan, vice chairperson of the Ho Chi Minh City government.

After several cases of children of workers being mistreated, governments have paid more attention to the construction of pre-schools in all industrial parks and zones, even those districts without educational institutions.

Mr. Thuan told Sai Gon Giai Phong journalist that the city has ordered the construction of 15 public pre-schools educational facilities for children.

In addition, HCMC is the first city in the country to implement special policies for teachers with regard to pre-schools.

Mr. Thuan said that however due to our large population, the city cannot meet the demands of any more facilities.

In addition, businesses from the industrial parks in the city, which employ many female workers, must also help the government build more schools for children.

When planning and constructing industrial parks, the city have always ensured that educational and medical facilities are also built.  However, local governments have not always been enforcing these practices, and many enterprises have not followed building requirements.  

Mr. Thuan said in article 116 of the Labor law, it states that all employers must build pre-schools or least give financial assistance to female workers that have children in their companies.

After a tour of some of industrial parks and processing zones in the city, Mr. Thuan directed the Department of Education and Training and the Management Board of these industrial parks and processing zones in the city to construct more pre-schools and places where trees can be planted in the parks.

According to Mr. Thuan, investment in education should not be just for profit only, but a way of helping its female employees.

The city will give support to the construction of these facilities in the attempt to reduce pressure on new populated residential areas, where there is a serious shortage of pre-schools.

He hopes that all investors and parents contribute, with the government, in the construction of high quality suitable schools.

‘Thuy’s Dream’ motivates students in schools 

The weekly flag raising ceremony every Monday in schools has enthused many students in Ho Chi Minh City.

The ceremony held in high schools such as Marie Curie in District 3 and Nguyen Du in District 10 recently, has left a deep impression on students.

The ceremony is held under a program called ‘Thuy's Dream’ initiated by Tuoi Tre Newspaper. This program was created to help and support pediatric cancer patients. It is dedicated to the memory and spirit of the late high school student Le Thanh Thuy, who died of bone cancer in 2007.  Thuy was awarded the HCMC Outstanding Young Citizens award in 2006.

Many students were moved to tears as they listened to a letter that Thuy had written to her parents thanking them for their love and care, as she struggled against cancer and her longing to come back to school.

The story of Thuy has aroused many students to live better and more meaningful lives. It is a sensitive and inspiring story of courage, human values and a profound understanding of life.

Many students have been encouraged to register as volunteers for the program. The City’s schools have also supported the organizing of such a weekly flag raising ceremony and bring school children to understand the ideals of Thuy.

Students in Nguyen Thai Binh High School in Tan Binh District and Bach Dang Secondary School in District 3 have also participated in general knowledge quizzes and brief stories by their headmasters.

Deputy headmaster of Nguyen Du High School, Pham Duc Hung, suggested that schools should vary their topics for discussion in order to make it interesting for students. According to him topics such as future careers, family values, relationships and loyalty to country could be both interesting and inspiring for students.

PV