Illiteracy eradication pushed ahead in Vietnam: MoET
Vietnam has obtained certain successes in illiteracy eradication, and efforts are still maintained to push ahead with the task in the context of observation of the International Literacy Day on September 8 every year.
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| An illiteracy eradication class in Bang Phuc commune of Cho Don district, the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan (Photo: VNA) |
In Vietnam, the literacy rates at Level 1 (completing Phase 1 of the illiteracy eradication program and engaging in continuing education after acquiring literacy skills) and Level 2 (completing Phase 2 of the illiteracy eradication program and engaging in continuing education after acquiring the skills) among people aged 15 - 60 currently stand at 98.85 per cent and 97.29 per cent, respectively.
All the 63 provincial-level localities nationwide have reached Level 1 of illiteracy elimination while 48 of them (76.19 per cent) reached Level 2. Four provinces achieved Level 2 in the 2022 - 2023 academic year, namely Phu Yen, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, and Quang Nam.
Meanwhile, more than 1 million people aged 15 - 60 remain illiterate at Level 1, and over 2 million others are illiterate at Level 2, mostly ethnic minority people and women.
Some localities still record high illiteracy rates such as Ninh Thuan (10.52 per cent), An Giang (7.3 per cent), Lai Chau (6.11 per cent), Ho Chi Minh City (6.45 per cent), Ha Giang (4.58 per cent), Gia Lai (4.49 per cent), Bac Kan (4.45 per cent), and Binh Phuoc (3.66 per cent).
During the last academic year, more than 32,000 people were enrolled in illiteracy eradication classes, rising over 12,000 from the 2021 - 2022 school year. That helped the country sustain its achievements in this regard, according to provincial-level departments of education and training.
The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) reported that to sustain the achievements and help more localities meet Level 2 of illiteracy eradication, during the last school year, authorities of many provinces and cities ordered community learning centers and primary schools to encourage those unable to read or write to enrol in illiteracy eradication classes, including Ha Giang (5,897 persons), Lai Chau (5,176), Lao Cai (2,325), Yen Bai (2,088), and Son La (2,303).
Many education departments have managed to involve social forces in the task by cooperating with departments of public security and departments of labor, invalids, and social affairs to organize illiteracy eradication classes and provide vocational training for prisoners; working with border guard commands to step up eliminating illiteracy and boost primary education universalization; and coordinating with education promotion associations and women’s unions to promote the building of a learning society.
Some education departments have also properly carried out communications about illiteracy eradication in the public, especially in ethnic minority areas. As a result, achievements have been maintained sustainably and seen more progress, the MoET noted.
For the 2023 - 2024 school year, one of the focal tasks the MoET has assigned to continuing education agencies is to push ahead with the elimination of illiteracy.
To improve people’s educational level to help with poverty reduction, the MoET said, it is necessary to boost assistance and provide favorable conditions for vulnerable groups, those out of the working age, homemakers, and the disabled to practice lifelong learning.
Examples of older persons who are in their 60s, 70s, or even 80s should be popularised to encourage lifelong learning in society.
The MoET has launched a movement for the 2023 - 2030 period that calls for the entire country’s joint efforts in building a learning society and promoting lifelong learning. The program aims to help increase the whole political system’s participation in raising public awareness of lifelong learning and a learning society, thus contributing to the development of human resources amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution and international integration.
(Source: VNA)
