Plan to achieve universalization of junior secondary education
Ha Noi, Nov.27 (VNA)-- The Government of Viet Nam plan to achieve universalization of junior secondary education nationwide by the end of the first decade of the 21st century.
To formalise the plan, the Prime Minister issued a decree on Nov. 22 outlining its implementation.
The decree states that all Vietnamese, aged between 11 and 18, are eligible for universalised junior secondary education.
Those living in communes of extreme difficulty and those who have been unable to attend classes on a regular basis due to difficult living conditions will be provided with free-of-charge textbooks and study aids.
Localities with 90 percent of 6-year-old children going to school and at least 80 percent of children, aged between 11 and 14, graduating from primary schools will be recognised as meeting national standards on junior secondary education universalization. For areas of extreme difficulty, the rates have to be 80 and 70 percent, respectively.
Viet Nam strives to achieve junior secondary education universalization in nine of the country's 61 provinces and cities this year and in another 30 localities by 2005. To date, three localities have met the target.
In June of 2000, the country accomplished the targets of illiteracy elimination and universalization of primary education. --VNA
