Remarkable results have been achieved seven years since the implementation of Government Resolution No 29-NQ/TW of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s 11th tenure on education and training renovation, said Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha.

He made the statement on January 27 at the 13th CPV Congress’ discussion regarding draft documents.

Almost all five-year-old children received preschool learning by 2017, Nha said.

Universal primary education has been achieved in Vietnam.

“The percentage of six-year-old children enrolled in the first grade, which is at 99 per cent, ranked second in ASEAN, after Singapore,” he said.

“This is a bright spot in our country’s educational innovation and appreciated by many countries and international organisations.”

The Ministry of Education and Training has implemented a new general education programme with an international approach, he said.

“The new general education programme, which was issued at the end of 2018, is expected to substantially solve the limitations of the current programme, focusing on developing the quality and capacity of learners,” the minister said.

Nha said university autonomy was strengthened, and positive changes have been seen in the quality of university education. However, he admitted that there were still shortcomings.

The shortage of teachers hasn’t been solved in some localities, the minister said.

Information technology and other facilities for education are not synchronised in several areas, especially in remote and disadvantaged places.

To realise the target of a comprehensive renovation of education and training in 2021-2025, he said the education ministry would work with other ministries and localities to carry out solutions including reforming state management mechanisms and school governance.

In addition to paying attention to improving the quality of teachers and managers, it is necessary to streamline the government payroll while ensuring human resources for educational establishments, he said.

The ministry will hasten digitalisation in the sector along with reviewing educational system planning, he said.

VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK