98% of Vietnamese Literate by 2020

Vietnam aims to raise the national literacy rate to 98% in 15 to 60-year-olds by 2020. Under a project recently signed by the Prime Minister, 800,000 people in the above age group will become literate by 2015, reaching 96%. Of which, the rate of literacy in 14 poor provinces will be 90%, which is expected to hit 94% by 2020. Meanwhile, 300,000 ethnic minorities will learn to read and write, reaching 90%, up from 250,000 in 2015. All provincial and district-level units and 95% of commune-level units look to meet literacy goals in the 2013-2020 period. To realise such goals, the project suggests that more classes for ethnic minorities, especially those tailored for people with disabilities or visually and hearing impaired people, open. At the same time, teachers will receive training on ethnic languages and customs. Those working in disadvantaged areas will benefit from incentives. On top of this, an illiteracy elimination and post-literacy education program will be renewed to run in tandem with the general education program after 2015. Primary school teachers, retired cadres, border guard soldiers, members from unions like the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union are also encouraged to join in the project. (vietnamplus.vn May 7)