Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, July 29 (VNA) -- Viet Nam plans to have 30 provinces and cities nationwide universalizing junior secondary education by 2005.

The target is a major component of the education and training programme for the 2001-2005 period which has recently been approved by the Prime Minister.

The programme also aims to have 30 percent of labourers in the working-age bracket trained, restructure personnel training, and boost the IT education at university and lower levels.

The programme has seven projects which are worth VND 6,675 billion (roughly USD 445 million) scheduled over the next five years and aims to consolidate the universalization of primary education and develop junior secondary education improve curriculums and textbooks; promote IT training; retrain teachers and upgrade facilities for pedagogy schools, support education in mountainous and poor areas, upgrade facilities, strengthen capacity in technical and vocational training centres; and build key universities and high schools.

Viet Nam achieved national standards in universalizing primary education and literacy in June 2000.--VNA