Vietnamese Education and Training Development Strategy to Year 2010

VIETNAMESE EDUCATION AND TRAINING DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY TO YEAR 2010 FOR THE CAUSE OF INDUSTRIALIZATION, MODERNIZATION AND GLOBALIZATION OF VIETNAM

Abstract

Vietnam is remarkable for its social resilience and political determination. Though it continues to be adversely affected by the effects of colonialism, warfare and natural disasters, it has since the mid-1980s vigorously pursued goals of industrialization and modernization, as a consequence of which it is now experiencing high annual rates of economic growth, low rates of inflation, a reducing incidence of poverty, a slowing in the rate of population growth and, most importantly, an increase in export income. It remains, however, a very poor country. Its gross per capita income level in 2005 was only US $620, and it is heavily reliant on intensive agriculture to support its population of nearly 84 million. The higher education system has undergone dramatic change during the past decade. Enrolments increased from 162,000 in 1992/93 to well over 1.3 million in 2005/06. At the same time, a small number of larger comprehensive universities have become dominant in a system once characterized by small, specialized institutes and colleges. Fourteen universities, out of the more than 200 universities and colleges in the higher education sector, have been officially designated as ‘key universities’, and these enroll almost one-third of all higher education students. They include the two national universities, one in Hanoi and the other in Ho Chi Minh City. There is an official expectation that the ‘key universities’ will provide leadership in the process of modernizing the higher education system, particularly by developing a strong research culture and capability.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1.0 Introduction 5

2.0 History of Educational Development – Milestones 7

3.0 The Current Vietnamese Education System – Issues, Policies,...