VIET NAM AND ESD: REALITY AND PROSPECTS

BY LE THI HOANG CUC VIET NAM NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. GENERAL INFORMATION II.STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM III.VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES ON EDUCATION IV.VIET NAM AND ESD V.ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

• • • • • • • Official name: The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Capital: Ha Noi Population: 80 million or so 75% are in rural areas 14% are ethnic minorities Per capita income: US$ 400 (2001) Literacy rate: 90.3% (97% for 17-35 years old)

II. STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM IN VIET NAM THE NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN VIET NAM INCLUDES: 1.

PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION (FOR CHILDREN FROM THREE-MONTH TO SEVENTY-TWO MONTH) 2.

GENERAL EDUCATION (12 YEARS) WITH TWO LEVELS: - PRIMARY EDUCATION (5 YEARS)

EDUCATION SYSTEM (Continued) -SECONDARY EDUCATION, WHICH CONSISTS OF TWO SUB-LEVELS: . LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION (4 YEARS) . UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION (3 YEARS)

EDUCATION SYSTEM (Continued) 3. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION: - PROFESSIONAL SECONDARY EDUCATION ( 3 TO 4 YEARS) - VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ( 3 TO 12 MONTHS OR 1 TO 2 YEARS)

EDUCTION SYSTEM (Continued) 4. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION WITH TWO DEGREES: - COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY (4-6 years) - POST-GRADUATE EDUCATION WITH TWO DEGREES OF MASTER AND DOCTOR

EDUCATION SYSTEM (Continued) 5. NON-FORMAL EDUCATION - LITERACY AND POST LITERACY PROGRAMMES - NFE PRIMARY AND LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION.

- LIFE-SKILLS PROGRAMMES

III. GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES ON EDUCTION • • • • • THE CONSTITUTION OF S.R OF VIET NAM (1992) LAW OF EDUCATION (1998) LAW OF UNIVERSAL OF PRIMARY ED EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 2001-2010 NATIONAL EFA ACTION PLAN 2003-2015 APPROVED BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN JULY 2003

VISION

• • • • EDUCATION AND TRAINING IS THE FIRST PRIORITY OF NATIONAL POLICY.

EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR RAPID AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH SYSTEMATIC AND COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION SERVES THE COUNTRY’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.

INVESTMENT FOR EDUCATION IS INVESTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT

IV. VIET NAM AND ESD

• • ESD IS QUITE NEW CONCEPT IN VIET NAM HOWEVER, ESD-RELATED CONTENTS HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.

+ IN GENERAL SCHOOLS + IN NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

ESD-RELATED CONTENTS

• • • • • • • • • POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AIDS/HIV PREVENTION CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTION BIODIVERSITY AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY PRESERVATION FAMILY PLANNING HEALTH PROMOTION POVERTY ALLEVIATION LIFE-SKILLS

V. ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT • • • • • RAISING AWARENESS ON ESD AND DESD.

SETTING UP A NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF COORDINATION OF THE DESD.

DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND STRATEGIC PLANS FOR ESD TRAINING PERSONNEL FOR ESD CURRICULA INNOVATION FOR ESD

RECOMMENDATION

• • • SUB-REGIONAL/REGIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP BE ORGANISED INTERNATIONAL/UNESCO ASSISTANCE, TECHNICALLY AND FINANCIALLY, FOR CARRYING OUT ESD ACTIVITIES INTEGRATE ESD INTO EFA AND UNLD ACTIVITIES