Viet Nam : Secondary Education Sector Development Program (Program Loan)

Education / Education sector development

The Secondary Education Sector Development Program (SESDP) will be the first education sector development program in Viet Nam. It will comprise a program loan for policy reforms and an accompanying investment loan for addressing three key constraints on secondary education: sector management and accountability, quality and relevance, and access and equity. The Program is anchored in the Government's reforms in secondary education. The SESDP is aimed at improving the average learning outcome among secondary students through three outputs: effective and accountable management of secondary education, improvements in quality for international competitiveness, and better access and equity for disadvantaged groups. The SESDP will comprise the following activities: (i) updating the Secondary Education Sector Master Plan 2011 2015, (ii) developing new national standards for secondary schools, (iii) establishing a national accreditation board for secondary schools, (iv) introducing a new human resource management strategy for secondary teachers, (v) issuing certificates to secondary teachers, (vi) introducing a new learning assessment system, (vii) participating in the Programme for International Student Assessment of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and

Development, (viii) upgrading the curriculum, (ix) expanding continuing education, (x) expanding integrated education for disabled students, and (xi) pilot-testing the conditional cash transfer program

Viet Nam has enjoyed rapid economic growth over the past decade on the strength of higher farm incomes, strong domestic demand, and fast export growth. Exports are growing by 15% 20% per year in value terms, and foreign direct investment inflows by 10% per year.

Recent economic growth has changed the sectoral composition of the economy. In 1999, the country was primarily agricultural: 76% of the population lived in the countryside and agricultural production accounted for 26% of gross domestic product (GDP) (1998). By 2007, the share of agriculture, forestry, and fishery had declined to 14.2% of GDP. Industry, on the other hand, has increased its share of GDP to 43.3%, while services now make up 42.5%. Such a shift economy based on services, technology, and industry.

There is a growing need for more than just equitable compulsory education. Parents, particularly those from the increasingly prosperous middle class, aspire to have their children succeed in the market economy and view the acquisition of academic qualifications and professional skills as a key strategy toward that objective. They realize that primary education alone will not secure employment in modern industries and well-paid professional careers. Secondary education is considered an entry-level requirement that can provide the basic competencies and skills for technology management and problem solving. Viet Nam must improve the quality of its labor force to stay competitive within the region and sustain economic growth. In 2006,

Viet Nam had a work force (15 60 years of age) of 45.6 million, 3% more than in 2005. Nearly half (45.5%) were below the age of 34. Young people must become proficient in information and communication technology, foreign languages, and other professional skills and areas of knowledge. The quality of schooling and the learning outcomes must be equivalent to those in other countries for Viet Nam to continue to compete internationally.

The Program Loan was successfully completed in 2013 with all the policy actions fulfilled.

The Project Loan was physically closed with activities completed with the following main achievements, final procedures are to be started for loan account closing.

- All short-term OST activities completed. All master candidates completed studies.

- The Department of Teachers and Education Managers has piloted the issuing of certificates to 140 qualified teachers in Lao Cai province. To date CPMU has supported workshops on teaching methodology to achieve national standards for 24,779 mentors. In the SY2013/14, 94.6% of secondary teachers were evaluate using the new standards.

- MOET issued the new standards for secondary school teachers which were approved under an ADB-financed project through circular 30/2009/TT-BGDD.

- Teacher assessment started in SY 2011. Training has been provided to 24,779 trainers who then provide upgrading to teachers.

- Grade 11 NAM and PISA were completed in December 2011 and April 2012 respectively. The grade 9 NAM for 4 subjects was conducted in April 2013. Results for 2012 PISA were released December 2013. Participation is underway for PISA 2015.

- Training workshops for mentor teachers on enhancement of ICT application in teaching were conducted in in July 2013. Two candidates completed their overseas Master degree programs. Equipment (hardware) was provided for 32 LSS and 41 USS in Q4/2012.

- The construction in 17 CECs was completed. Contracts for furniture for the CECs are completed. Training workshop on evaluating the effectiveness of the CEC model combining general knowledge teaching with professional skills teaching was held in Da Nang on 10-11 April 2014.

- 58 schools with inclusive education completed the renovation works.

- The payment of CCT to 3,501 targeted students (1,696 male and 1,805 female) for SY 2013-2014 was completed. Payment of CCT for targeted students of SY2014-2015 will be completed by Q2/2015. Payment for school block grant to CCT schools for SY2013-2014 was completed. Payment of school block grant to CCT schools for SY2014-2015 was completed in Q2/2015. Site visits to monitor the CCT implementation were conducted in Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Binh Dinh and Lam Dong provinces (on 18-21 May 2014).