Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Jan. 24 (VNA) -- Viet Nam is working to have between 85 and 95 percent of all children complete primary school depending on the conditions of their region by 2010; 80 percent of children aged between 12 and 18 graduate from junior secondary school and the remainder receive different forms of junior secondary education the same year.

In addition, 98 percent of the over-15 population will be literate and between 60 and 70 percent of the population aged between 15 and 35 will have benefited from a post-illiteracy-eradication programme equivalent to the fifth grade from this year.

To meet these targets, young-generation education will be expanded by diversifying education and ensuring the health of children to six years so as to have the target 95 percent of five-year-old children in kindergartens by 2010.

The primary-school network will be developed so as to ensure sufficient facilities for all chidren learning in two shifts each day.

Each commune and ward of an advantaged region will have one school while disadvantaged regions must ensure enough schools for junior secondary children.

Vocational guidance will be enhanced in junior-secondary education by allowing an appropriate time for practice. Efficient preparations will be made for streaming ninth grade pupils to senior secondary and other schools.

The contents of teaching documents and documents at regular education centres will be made suitable for learners in such programmes as illiteracy eradication, vocational training to increase income, helping drop-out children return to regular education system. The facilities at the centres will also be upgraded.

The Education and Training Ministry is working to have 100 percent of junior-secondary teachers meet the national standards in 2005 and 100 percent of primary-school teachers, 80 percent of public kindergarten teachers and at least 40 percent of private kindergarten teachers in 2010.

All social organizations will continue to be mobilized to take part in illiteracy eradication and other programmes.--VNA