Children at a pre-school education establishment learns how to grow a tree. (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Education and Training reviewed the 2015-2016 academic year and launched tasks for pre-school education in 2016-2017 at a conference in Hanoi on July 20.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Nghia emphasized developing preschools in industrial and processing zones and poor areas while upgrading infrastructure and building more facilities that meet national standards.
She also requested ensuring absolute safety for children in preschools, improving the quality of their meals and the teachers’ capacity.
According to the Department of Early Childhood Education, the country is currently home to more than 14,600 preschools and 180,000 classes, with Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Kien Giang, Da Nang and Ba Ria - Vung Tau recording the highest increases in the number of schools.
From 2015-2016, up to 99.8 percent of five-year-old children attend pre-schools while the rate of schools meeting national standards increased 3.4 percent, respectively. Technological advances are also being adopted to care of children.
However, representatives from the Departments of Education and Training also pointed out existing shortcomings, including the shortage of schools in urban and industrial areas, limited resources for pre-schools in mountainous areas and the low rate of solid classrooms.
Only 35 percent of the existing preschools have met national standards, which is attributable to the lack of comprehensive plans on pre-school education in each locality, suitable mechanisms to develop non-public pre-schools and appropriate perks for teachers.-VNA
