Investing in educational infrastructure for ethnic minority areas

Together with the working delegation of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, the Department of Education and Training (GD&DT) inspected the construction of classrooms and teaching equipment under the 1719 Program at Thuan Chau Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities. The project is completing classrooms, accommodation, equipment and pouring concrete in the school yard. Ms. Luong Thi Chuong, Principal of the school, said: At the end of 2023, the school will receive an investment of more than 20.4 billion VND from the 1719 Program to build a new 3-storey building with 9 classrooms; a 3-storey dormitory with 24 rooms; repair the kitchen; purchase teaching equipment for grades 9 and 12. The project is expected to be put into use in the 2025-2026 school year, contributing to improving the learning, living and playing conditions for nearly 500 boarding students.

In Chieng Khoong commune, there are 7 schools at the preschool, primary and secondary levels, with 198 classes and 5,793 students. Along with the investment from national target programs, the commune has mobilized additional social resources to build and repair facilities, ensuring learning conditions for ethnic minority students. Mr. Nguyen Van Dong, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: Up to now, 7/7 schools have met national standards, with facilities meeting teaching and boarding requirements. The quality of education in ethnic minority areas has been improved, the rate of good and excellent students has increased, primary and secondary school students have 2 sessions/day, attendance is over 99%, and the dropout rate at secondary school has gradually decreased over the years.

The province currently has more than 500 schools, with over 300,000 students who are ethnic minority children. In the 2021-2025 period, from the capital of Program 1719, Son La will implement 14 projects to renovate, upgrade, build classrooms, boarding and semi-boarding houses; purchase teaching and living equipment for students of ethnic minority boarding schools. At the same time, the province will implement literacy programs for ethnic minorities, with a total budget of more than 526 billion VND.

Mr. Quang Van Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, said: The Department continues to review and prioritize investment and upgrading of facilities, especially infrastructure serving digital transformation for ethnic minority boarding schools, boarding schools for ethnic minorities, mountainous areas, disadvantaged areas, and border areas. Schools that do not have facilities or are renting, borrowing, or are in disrepair will be given priority for equipment and upgrading. The Department also coordinates with units and localities to establish projects, clear land, organize bidding, and select qualified contractors for construction.

Every year, the Department of Education and Training issues a plan to inspect and supervise the implementation of sub-project 1 and project 5, evaluate the leadership, direction, and compliance with regulations on program implementation; promptly detect errors, difficulties, and problems and recommend competent authorities to handle them, contributing to improving the effectiveness of the program.

To date, the Department of Education and Training has disbursed more than 360 billion VND, reaching over 68% of the plan assigned by the Provincial People's Committee, upgrading 17 teachers' offices; 269 student dormitories; 68 classrooms; 13 dining rooms and kitchens; 13 clean water and sanitation facilities; 53 auxiliary items; investing in teaching equipment for 175 boarding and semi-boarding schools and eliminating illiteracy for 3,533 people in ethnic minority areas.

To date, 100% of 5-year-old ethnic minority children have completed the preschool program; all primary school students are assessed as meeting the requirements for learning, capacity, and qualities; nearly 100% of 5th graders have completed the program. By 2025, the high school graduation rate in ethnic minority schools will be nearly 100%, of which 65% will enter university and college and nearly 30% will enter intermediate and vocational training.

With the investment in infrastructure and equipment from Program 1719, the quality of education in ethnic minority and mountainous areas of the province has been significantly improved, creating a solid foundation for ensuring equity in access to education and improving the quality of mass education, contributing to narrowing the development gap between regions.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/nong-thon-moi/dau-tu-ha-tang-giao-duc-vung-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-3CltO7uNg.html