The school enrolment season started earlier in Quang Tri Province to enable many poor 12th-grade students to compete for free entrance to a vocational high school in Danang. The nation's official examination for vocational high schools and universities officially begins in July. Nguyen Thi Nhi and his schoolmates from Vinh Linh High School were among about 50 who are seeking free seats. Nhi is from a poor family with little chance of being able to afford vocational high school or university. Another student, Nguyen Van Long, said his chance to attend university was unsecured as well. His parents have to feed three children on the meagre income from farming and also pay for another sister to attend university in Hue. Students from other remote districts in the province, including Dak Rong and Cam Lo, have had the same exam. According to Tran Thi Thanh Lien, one of the recruiters, students who pass the tests will be given free study, accommodation, meals and transport for two years. The applicants do speed maths tests and logic tests and then will be interviewed to make sure that they have strong commitments. Those successful will have their fees paid by the non-profit French organisation Passerelles Numeriques Vietnam (PNV). PNV works with the Software Development Centre (SDC), which is under the Danang University. "In addition to classes given by SDC, we organize classes of soft skills, advanced English and IT by PNV instructors," Lien said. Beside Quang Tri, PNV this year is helping students in central Quang Binh, Danang, Binh Dinh and Kontum provinces. They will recruit 60 to have a total of 121. PNV also supports students to find jobs in Danang after training. Some have also been hired by PNV to work as instructors on advanced IT to beginners. (Vietnam News May 3)
