World Bank gives VN $177m for school reform

The World Bank has approved US$177 million to support the reform of Viet Nam’s primary and higher education systems.

The bank recognised Viet Nam’s progress in modernising governance, financing, quality assurance and public financial management in the higher education sector, the organisation said in a press release Wednesday.

"The economic crisis is a golden opportunity for Viet Nam to reform its education sector, as this will put the country on firmer footing to come out of the economic crisis and to create a firm foundation for long-term growth," said the WB Country Director for Viet Nam, Victoria Kwakwa.
About $50 million from the credit approved Wednesday will be earmarked to implement the Higher Education Development Policy Programme.

The programme will enable the sector to expand the number of schools, while ensuring equal access to study programmes. The World Bank also approved $127 million for the School Education Quality Assurance Programme for Viet Nam, which pays special attention to disadvantaged primary education students by supporting the Government’s full-day schooling reform programme.

The programme will fund improvements in policy framework, human resources, and school facilities and resources for the implementation of the programme.

The World Bank has also approved two other projects..

One is a coastal cities project aimed at reducing river pollution in Quy Nhon City in Binh Dinh Province.

The other project is focused on managing the country’s vast bulk of polychlorinated biphenyls, an organic pollutant often used as an industrial coolant.

The World Bank-administered Global Environment Facility would support both projects with $12 million in funds, said the organisation.