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The Primary Education for Disadvantaged Children Project valued at 244 million USD will become operational on Sunday, announced the World Bank in a press release on Friday. Of the total capital the WB provided a loan of 138.8 million USD and foreign donors, 65 million USD, as non-refundable aid.
According to Director of the World Bank in Viet Nam Klaus Rohland, the fund will be channeled to 4,200 primary schools and 15,000 satellite school sites in Viet Nam.
Not only will these schools upgrade their classrooms and facilities, but 40,000 teachers will receive new training and 1.4 million pupils will have text books and learning materials to meet fundamental school quality standards.
The Project focuses on disadvantaged children in Viet Nam including those primary school-aged children who are not enrolled or are at risk of not completing their primary education; children who attend schools that do not meet the minimum school quality levels; and other vulnerable groups including street children, disabled children, and girls in certain ethnic minority.
The Project supports the attainment of a "fundamental school quality level" (FSQL) which is the minimum level of institutional capacity, instructional materials, teacher training and support, physical infrastructure, and school-community linkages required to maintain a healthy and productive learning environment. This is seen as a first stepping-stone in achieving more ambitious national school standards.
The project will be implemented in 195 districts, two-thirds of project districts are located in ethnic minority and remote areas, said Project Manager Dang Tu An.
The majority of project resources are targeted on the geographical areas where approximately 70 percent of Viet Nam's educationally disadvantaged children live.
In those locations, by the end of the project in 2009, 86 out of 100 pupils will complete primary school in five years. It is also expected that by 2009, national guidelines will have been developed and applied effectively to support inclusive education for children with disabilities and other highly vulnerable groups, such as street and working children, minority girls, and children living in fishing communities.
Vietnam Agency - (13/10/2003)
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