Education will help students understand and act on the importance ofpreserving Vietnam's heritage, Nguyen Van Huy, vice director of theCentre for Cultural Heritage Research and Promotion (CCH) said at aworkshop.

The event was held in Hanoi on Mar. 7 as part of UNESCO's Culture and Development Week.

Current educational practices in Vietnam offers little linkage between schools, museums and heritage, Huy said.

"UNESCO's intervention in the field of heritage education hasstrengthened the chain and advocated the inclusion of heritage educationin curriculum," he said.

The workshop was aimed atreviewing and evaluating projects implemented by UNESCO and variousorganisations in integrating cultural heritage education into schoolcurriculum and to promote such models at national level.

Since 2010, UNESCO co-operated with the CCH in Hanoi schools, thenorthern province of Hoa Binh and the Central Highlands province ofDac Nong to develop heritage education.

Until now,heritage education programmes have included education at museums,vestiges and cultural sites, promotion of the ethnic Muong in Hoa Binhprovince and intangible cultural heritage sites in Hanoi as well asthe preservation of Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site.

"Both students and teachers are more creative and active since joiningour projects and carry out regular field trips to cultural vestiges,"Huy said.

"Students not only obtain knowledge aboutnational heritage, but also learn skills such as taking photos,interviewing, filming and making speeches."

Huy saidobstacles include the lack of education authority participation in theprojects and teacher attitudes towards preparing materials related toheritage education. Representatives from schools and the Ministry ofEducation and Training attended the workshop.-VNA