$5.2 million to go to marginalised children

Under the patronage of Nguyen Thi Kim Chi, Deputy Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam, the new initiative, to be implemented by Save the Children Vietnam, aims to improve quality and inclusion in education, particularly for children from ethnic minorities and those living with disability.

Chi said, “The project will be implemented until 2026 with the goal of increasing access to education for ethnic minority children and those with disabilities. The aim is to enhance ethnic minority children’s proficiency in Vietnamese and their mother tongue, and to promote inclusive learning for children with disabilities. The project’s comprehensive activities will create a cohesive educational environment among management staff, teachers, students, parents, and the community.”

“We are most pleased to be able to contribute to an inclusive educational environment for all children so they can receive a high-quality education,” said Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation. “We have worked alongside partners in Vietnam for many years and are delighted to join forces with GPE and other partners. Education is the cornerstone of development, and we all must strive to provide this opportunity to every child.”

Vietnam has high primary school completion rates, strong gender parity, low student-teacher ratios, and a low out-of-school rate, but too many children from ethnic minorities do not have the support they need to progress through the education system. Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups, 90 languages, and multiple dialects.

“While Vietnam has made major strides towards universal access to education, marginalised children, including students in remote areas, children from minority groups and children living with disability still face many barriers in accessing their right to quality inclusive learning,” said Charles North, deputy CEO of the Global Partnership for Education.

“The last mile is often the hardest. At GPE, we strongly believe in the power of partnerships to address barriers to education. Our joint efforts will undoubtedly contribute to giving every boy and girl in Vietnam, wherever and whoever they are, the opportunity to learn and thrive,” North added.

It is expected that over the next three years, 734,000 children and 1,800 teachers from minority groups will benefit from the scheme.

“We are deeply grateful for the trust bestowed upon us by GPE, the Nippon Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Training, and all relevant stakeholders to bridge the educational access gap for children from ethnic minorities and those with disabilities. We are confident that the commitment from everyone here will significantly bolster our collective endeavours to advance educational development in Vietnam,” said Le Thi Thanh Huong, country director of Save the Children in Vietnam.

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