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A REVOLUTION IN VIETNAM'S EDUCATION

Education was an issue that was at the centre of heated debate in the dying was failing of
1998. As academics argued in newspapers that the government produced the most
comprehensive ever report into the subject, spotlighting weaknesses and shortcomings that
must be faced up with if Vietnam is to have an education system equal to the challenges of the
new free market economy. -

The question of teachers' pay is central to a fierce debate raging in Vietnam over the state
education system and how to make it good enough for the new market economy it is
preparing pupils for. The Eighth Party Congress identified it as one of the country's biggest
crises and last month chose it as one. of the first issues arising from Congress to debate at
Central Committee level. -

Among the central points in a wide-ranging and frank assessment of Vietnam's economy by
the World Bank were recommendations to:

 Raise teachers' pay.

 Increase school hours.
 Rectify the "grossly pro-rich" imbalance of subsidies going to better-off pupils in
tertiary education.
 Improve teaching standards.
 Fine-tune vocational training to bridge the skills gap that leaves thousands of
graduates without marketable skills. -

It is a cross-roads of enormous significance in a country that has always prized its education
above almost any other aspect of cultural life: In 1992, the amended constitution described
education as the "leading national policy". Many academics now believe the government is not
living up to its pledge and the standard of science and education has gone down in recent
years. (1)

The shortcomings in education are easy to define: The school day is only four hours
long , 25%25% shorter than most countries, and its school year is at least 20 days shorter.
Teachers are badly paid. Education spending is poorly balanced with a hugely disproportionate
amount going toward a small number of students in tertiary education and not enough to
primary education. And many schools, especially at the primary level, employ teachers without
adequate qualifications. So what went wrong? Bradley Babson, former Vietnam resident
representative of the World Bank, argued: "Education has become affected by the transition to
a market economy. In many ways, the educational sectors were on the backburner for the last
five years. The leadership was focusing on other things. There is now a shift of focus and a
recognition of how important Vietnam's people are to the future success of the government's
policies and ambitions. That is why education is back in the front line."
It is not a situation the government has been blind to. The Central Party Committee issued its
own resolution concerning education in Vietnam before the World Bank report and its
conclusion was deeply self-critical. It described the system as "backward and dated" and failing
to meet the demands of students; their families and employees. "Twenty years ago the level of
education and training in Vietnam was considered advanced by many international
organisations. The situation has changed now," the resolution said. 'Vietnam's best pupils are
level with other countries but in general, due to the serious lack of equipment and materials,
pupils here have a big gap in skills and knowledge."

The report concludes that Vietnam is "right on track or even ahead of schedule" with an
enrolment ratio of 5%5% in tertiary level. It seems comforting news for Vietnam's educators.
The stark reality is that the Asian tigers have since roared ahead into the far distance leaving
Vietnam with only lessons to grasp at as to how to update its own education system to put it
on the same path.

Even the simple aim of extending the hours of a school day would mean the current system of
double or treble "shifts" to fit more pupils in a school day would have to be abolished,
requiring a massive program of school building and upgrading. Meeting those costs and at the
same time boosting the teachers' salary by at least 40%40% while overhauling the whole
training system to ensure quality teaching at all levels will involve massive rise in budget.

Other propesals to spend more on textbooks and school equipment, develop more effective
vocational training and introduce subsidies to help poorer students also involve daunting
amounts of money. Vietnam spends 15%15% of its budget on education and training which is
low compared to other countries in the region. Huge sums of aid are waiting to be released to
Vietnam if the government decides to take the bull by the horns. Mr. Babson argued that "A lot
depends on whether the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) is ready to move into a
kind of leadership role in stimulating and developing the quality of education that is needed.
The big question mark is whether MOET is able to step up to the challenge and have the vision
and management capabilities to take on some of these issues."

Vietnam has woken up to the crisis inside its schools and universities. The first months of 1999
revealed whether it has the foresight to wrestle with the problem in a progressive way. In the
eyes of both Vietnam and the outside

world, it is a question of what to do about the nation's most valuable asset. "Vietnam's assets
are almost entirely its people," said Mr. Babson. "The ability of Vietnam to generate a.creative,
energetic, high-performing population that can take advantage of freedom in the opening. of
the economy is where people are placing their hopes in the future of the country."

It is believed raising the pay of teachers is the most important immediate step to take. "If
successfully implemented, it could make great immediate changes to Vietnam's education. In
longer term, more excellent students will be keen to become teachers and increase teaching
quality," one Vietnamese education official said.