Vietnam’s School Readiness Promotion Project was launched this month by the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training. The project plans to raise school readiness for 5 year old children, with a particular emphasis on disadvantaged children and/or from ethnic minority backgrounds.
According to Xioqing Yu, the Human Development Sector Director for the World Bank in East Asia and Pacific Region, social, behavioral, and critical thinking skills begin to form during childhood’s early stages of development; strengthening these areas provides the foundation for Vietnam’s social and economic progression.
Yu said “If you want to make education more equitable, if you want to enhance everyone’s chances to take advantage from Vietnam’s growing economy, if you want to tackle poverty – early childhood development and education is one of your most promising tools.”
The World Bank will provide $100 million USD to the project, meeting one of three breakthrough areas in Vietnam’s Socio-Economic Development Strategy for 2011-2020.
A survey released during the project’s commencement revealed that almost half of Vietnam’s five year old children are lacking skills in at least one subject needed to begin schooling. Furthermore, the percentage of children who are not ready for school is highest in children from ethnic minorities and/or disadvantaged backgrounds.
The project will fund lunch subsidies for disadvantaged children aged 3-5 years to encourage classroom participation and attendance. Salaries and health insurance contributions will additionally be given to contracted preschool teachers to assist the existing staff. The project will also finance technical assistance, training costs, and operations to improve school facilities and future development.
Creative Commons Love: United Nations Photo on Flickr.com
Written by Rachel Pozivenec