VietNamNet Bridge – Education Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan wants educationists to enlist the power of society to achieve quality education for all Vietnamese.

Students learn computer-based fashion design at HCM City Fashion Garment and Textile Industry College. Education Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan wants educationists to enlist the power of society to achieve quality education for all Vietnamese.

The State would continue to support education but educationists needed to raise awareness about the need for total education, he told a conference in HCM City on Monday.

They also had to encourage the contribution of the entire society to education, he said.

The Education Minister, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said: "The development of an environment conducive to education is the first task.

"We can’t limit education to school, we have to co-ordinate with families and society. Pupils and students should participate in social activities," he said.

The education minister said the Government’s decision to provide loans for students had ensured that his ministry could increase spending for vocational training and maintain expenditure for preschool and secondary education. But it was necessary to increase society’s total investment in education, and the increase should match society’s capacity to pay.

The Education Minister argued for the need to accelerate establishment of a non-State school and tertiary system.

The conference offered the chance for universities and schools in HCM City to share experiences and find ways for the State and the people to complete the socialisation of education, he said.

HCM City Education and Training Department director Huynh Cong Minh told the conference that a policy to strengthen investment in schools and universities was needed. This should include a bonus for students, teachers, parents, organisations and individuals who contributed to education.

Schools and classrooms should also be diversified to attract domestic and international investment in education and training, he said.

The city’s Education and Training Department had provided infrastructure and upgraded schools at a cost of almost VND300bil (US$18.75mil) since 2000.

The money, borrowed from a city investment development programme, accounted for 6-7% of total investment in the city’s schools and university infrastructure.

The city had developed policies and created favourable conditions that allowed non-State schools and universities to be built.

The establishment of private schools and universities had not only helped expand the education system but also helped settle proper school fees and payment for teachers. It meant the private schools and universities could now improve the quality of education and employ distinguished teachers.

Non-State schools and universities could access the world’s most advanced education methodology and easily integrate with international schools.

But the private schools and universities should reform their management methods to improve education quality.

City support

HCM City People’s Committee deputy chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said the city administration had provided incentive loans for investment in education.

Rang Dong Preschool had been the first to benefit with a loan of VND11bil ($687,500) to expand its facilities and upgrade its curriculum.

Since 2003, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School had been able to take advantage of the loans with their simple application procedures and repayments over seven years. Its principal Duong Thi Truc Bach said she would like private education to expand with the support of public officials.

"We hope the programme will be carried out more widely in the city and that there will be consistent guidelines from public officials at the top," she said.

These schools might be able to attract more qualified teachers because they can charge higher tuition fees and use that money to offer salaries higher than those given in the public sector.

Education and Training Department District 6 director Ngo Van Tan suggested lengthening the term of the loans to encourage more private development of the education system, so as to reduce investor pressure for the recipient schools to turn a profit.

Having more private schools would lead to higher standards in teacher training and student performance, he said.

Teachers at private schools in HCM City make an average monthly salary of VND4-5mil ($250-$312), VND300,000-500,000 more than their peers at public schools, said Nguyen Thai Binh High School principal Le Xuan Dung.

(Source: Viet Nam News)