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ADB, Viet Nam Sign a US$0.6 Million Grant for Effective and Accountable Secondary Education System

HANOI, VIET NAM (19 May 2008) – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) today signed a grant of $0.6 million to help Viet Nam develop a more effective and accountable secondary education system.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the Government were Deputy Governor Nguyen Van Binh of the State Bank of Viet Nam, and Vice Minister Nguyen Vinh Hien of the Ministry of Education and Training. Mr. Ayumi Konishi, ADB Country Director for Viet Nam, singed on behalf of ADB.

In Viet Nam, intensive public investment in secondary education has significantly improved schooling. While the initial emphasis was on improved access for equitable provision through expansion, the focus has gradually shifted to improving quality of service delivery. As Viet Nam is becoming a middle income country, the Government is currently faced with a critical challenge to deliver equitable services to those who are the hardest to reach, while improving the effectiveness and accountability of education provision.

“Development of secondary education has enabled Viet Nam to produce competitive labor, and also contributed to equitable socioeconomic development of the country. Yet, there is still a lot to be done to improve further the quality, effectiveness and sustainability of public schooling as Viet Nam becomes a middle income country” said Mr. Konishi. “Quality and management improvement through systemic reforms and institutional capacity development are the key measures to ensure sustainable development of secondary education”.

The $0.6 million grant will help the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and ADB to formulate a comprehensive package of reforms and an investment project. The new policy initiatives are expected to include: a new regulatory framework for scholarships and student loans; adoption of international standards for assessing students’ learning outcomes; development of lower secondary teacher standards and the fundamental school quality level (FSQL) for upper secondary education; effective and affordable textbook production and delivery; and improved use of information and communications technology in education.

The Government will contribute $170,000 toward the Project. MOET is the executing agency of the technical assistance, through which a comprehensive proposal is to be prepared by April 2009. ADB support of $600,000 is made available from the Japan Special Fund financed by the Government of Japan.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2007, it approved $10.1 billion of loans, $673 million of grant projects, and technical assistance amounting to $243 million.

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