The World Bank (WB) and the State Bank of Vietnam signed a credit agreement worth $100 million on May 14 to support the implementation of the Higher Education Reform Agenda, and to raise school readiness for five-year-old children. The deal was among three agreements inked between the two sides on the same day. All three credits come from the International Development Association, the WB’s concessional lending window for low income countries. The project will support selected elements of the national program on “Universal Early Childhood Education for five-year-old Children 2010-2015” as well as improve the quality of preschool education. Specifically, the project will help expand full-day preschool enrollments, improve capacity for preschool quality assurance and strengthened professional expertise of teachers and principals. “To help prepare Vietnam for the future, reforms from early childhood education through higher education are important along with building a culture of life-long learning,” wrote Axel van Trotsenburg, WB Vice President for East Asia & Pacific Region, in a recent article during his visit to Vietnam. The WB is one of the biggest donors to Vietnam’s education. Victoria Kwakwa, the World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, earlier said that the WB is pleased to help Vietnam strengthen the education sector to raise its economic competitiveness. (www.chinhphu.vn [1] May 14, Ha Noi Moi – New Hanoi May 15 p8)
