1. General Secondary Education in Vietnam

2. Structure of the Education System in Vietnam Doctor of philasophy Higher Education (4 - 6 yrs) JuniorCollege (3 yrs) UpperSecondary Education (3 yrs) ) Secondary technical and Vocational Education (3-4 yrs) Vocational Training Long-term (1-3 yrs) Short-term (<1 yr) Lower Lo Lower Secondary Education (4 yrs) 24 yrs old 21 yrs old 18 yrs old 15 yrs old 11 yrs old 6 yrs old 3 yrs old 3 months Lower Lo Pre-school Education (4 yrs) Cccccb Creche Lower Lo Primary Education (4 yrs) Non- formal Educa tion

3. Current structure of the National Education System Current structure of the National Education System A 12 year system made up of a 5-4-3-4 structure. A 12 year system made up of a 5-4-3-4 structure. Primary education is compulsory, has a nominal duration of 5 years has an official entry age of 6 years. Primary education is compulsory, has a nominal duration of 5 years has an official entry age of 6 years. Lower (basic) secondary education, with a duration of four years, is followed by either: Lower (basic) secondary education, with a duration of four years, is followed by either: Upper (high school) secondary education lasting 3 years; or Upper (high school) secondary education lasting 3 years; or Vocational and technical education of three main types: Vocational and technical education of three main types: Senior vocational education (3-4 years) open to lower secondary graduates and sometimes also to primary graduates; and secondary technical, education (or professional secondary education) lasts 2-4 years. Senior vocational education (3-4 years) open to lower secondary graduates and sometimes also to primary graduates; and secondary technical, education (or professional secondary education) lasts 2-4 years. Short programs (less than two years) open to graduates from primary and lower secondary schools. Short programs (less than two years) open to graduates from primary and lower secondary schools. Higher education consists of college (3 years) or university (4-6 years). Higher education consists of college (3 years) or university (4-6 years).

4. Pupils/students by levels

5. Teachers by levels

6. International Olympic Results (Medallist/Participants) Subjects 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2006 Mathematics 6 / 6 Physics 5 / 5 4 / 4 Chemistry Biology Informatics Russian 7 / 7

7. Main Issues on Secondary Education Main Issues on Secondary Education 1. Universalization of Lower Secondary (ULS) Goal: To provide compulsory education to all children aged from 11-18 yrs old. To promote general knowledge & develop human resources for the industrialisation and modernisation of the country. To achieve the completion of ULS by 2010.

8. Current achievement: 30 out of 64 provinces completed ULS Criteria for ULS: a. For individual students: Lower secondary students aged from 11-17 yrs old have completed the national curriculum for lower secondary education (9 yrs). Lower secondary students aged from 11-17 yrs old have completed the national curriculum for lower secondary education (9 yrs). b. The community: At least 90% of the children aged 6 go to primary schools; Over 80% of primary students got enrolled in Lower secondary; Over 80% of primary students got enrolled in Lower secondary; Over 85% of children aged from 11-17 complete national lower secondary curriculum either formal or non-formal education. Over 85% of children aged from 11-17 complete national lower secondary curriculum either formal or non-formal education.

9. 2. Innovation of national curriculum and textbooks for secondary schools - Preparations for after school-life with more focus on vocational education, civic education, foreign language and IT studies; - Development of streaming and gifted schools; - Toward modernization in content/knowledge, methodology. 3. Equity in education Support children in disadvantage areas and needy students (provision of textbooks, scholarship, …). Support children in disadvantage areas and needy students (provision of textbooks, scholarship, …). Improvement in the equity aspects of education Provision. Improvement in the equity aspects of education Provision. MOET has broad policy responsibility for education, operational and management responsibility is widely dispersed both vertically and horizontally. MOET has broad policy responsibility for education, operational and management responsibility is widely dispersed both vertically and horizontally.

10. 4. Emphasis on education for ethnic minority children Develop boarding schools for minority students both for lower and upper secondary schools (one/two boarding schools each province). Develop boarding schools for minority students both for lower and upper secondary schools (one/two boarding schools each province). 5. Informatic Communication Technology (ICT) - one of selective subjects for second. Schools; - one of compulsory module for school subjects: Technology; - Over 96% of upper secondary schools got access to the Internet.

11. Obstacles and problems Obstacles and problems School population growth; School population growth; Lack of schools and facility; Lack of schools and facility; Success in quantitative expansion has also masked persistent problems of low quality and inadequate management systems. Success in quantitative expansion has also masked persistent problems of low quality and inadequate management systems.

12. Thank you! Le Quan Tan Director, Secondary Education Departmet Ministry of Education and Training VIETNAM E-mail: lqtan@moet.gov.vn lqtanbgd@yahoo.com lqtan@moet.gov.vn