Chief Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam LottaSylwander has hailed Vietnam for its successful universalisation ofprimary education.

However, the country’s primary school completion rate is 92 percent, not quite all yet.

The UNICEF representative also said Vietnam needs to improve itseducation quality and teaching method. A participatory method anddialogue between teachers and students should be encouraged, added LottaSylwander.

The challenges of providingquality education services for ethnic minority groups have been asignificant barrier to the achievement of the Government’s target.

Sylwander said language, school conditions andtransportation have led to high school dropout rates among ethnicminority students.

The UNICEF representative urgedVietnam to renovate its education system. Vietnamese students need tobe equipped with critical thinking skills.

Whentalking about UNICEF’s plans to support Vietnam’s education developmentgoals, the UN official said that UNICEF is implementing a bilingualeducation programme in which ethnic minority children will beginlearning in their mother tongues.

UNICEF is alsoassisting Vietnam in developing a child-friendly education environmentmodel. The model encourages Vietnamese students to actively involvethemselves in the decision making of schools. Students are taught softskills to deal with life’s problems.

UNICEF hasalso worked with the Vietnamese side to implement initiatives andprogrammes to help disadvantaged children get access to education, addedSylwander.-VNA