Vietnam has launched a project to improve education access for people in 14 underprivileged provinces as part of its plan to eliminate illiteracy by 2020. The project, which is expected to benefit 1.2 million people aged 15-60 in provinces of An Giang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Kom Tum and Yen Bai, aims to raise the literacy rate in those localities to 94% and to 98% nationwide. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has signed a national plan on illiteracy elimination by 2020 and assigned the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to compile anti-illiteracy programs for the deaf, ethnic minorities and visually-impaired people. The MoET has also been instructed to improve the programs in line with regular high school ones after 2015. The government chief said that more classes for these vulnerable groups will be set up to improve their education approach. Vietnam, which had an illiteracy rate of more than 90% in 1945, has made great efforts to reduce the rate over the past 20 years. Vietnam’s literacy rate and school attendance rate compare favorably to other countries in the region and in the same income group, according to the World Bank’s recent report. However, the report also recognizes that the country still faces challenges in narrowing gaps in access and learning across population groups, and in improving the quality of teaching and learning to develop the skills needed for the labor market. (Vietnam News May 14 p3)
