Vietnam was torn apart by two major conflicts in the last century, and it is only after the 1980s did the country start its rebuilding process, and in about four decades it is ahead of India in school education, especially when it comes to the best practices.
This was the opinion of R. S. S. Nehru, faculty, Department of Teacher Education, Central University of Odisha, Koraput. He was here for a seminar at the Andhra University and spoke to The Hindu , on his comparative observations.
The teacher who had recently completed his post-doctoral fellow on the topic ‘comparative study of education and teacher education in India and Vietnam’, from the National University of Vietnam and University of Education, said it was only now that we have designed and implemented the Right to Education (RTE) in India, whereas it has been implemented in Vietnam in 1991.
He went ahead to add that the RTE has been implemented in its true essence and spirit in Vietnam, whereas it is yet to take off as desired in India.
“School education over there is completely government owned and controlled and it is free from LKG to Std XII,” he said.
According to him, though the education is government controlled, total autonomy and financial freedom is given to the schools and every student, be it from any section of society, will have to study in government-run schools.
e-classroom
“The government schools are not like the ones that we have here. The schools are on par with any international school and each class is an e-classroom. They follow the blended learning system, which includes use of technology and face-to-face teaching,” said Dr. Nehru.
Apart from the best of facilities, each school has a fully-equipped dispensary with at least two beds and free safe drinking water is provided by the government, he added.
According to him, regular faculty-development-programme and training is embedded in the teaching system and everything is made transparent in the website of school or government website.
Integrated curriculum
They follow an integrated curriculum, with emphasis on hands on training and skill development, he said.
According to Dr. Nehru, Vietnam was the first country in the world to start an exclusive university for teacher education. “This university is not only open for a degree in teaching but also conducts training programme for teachers from all disciplines. Every teacher has to undergo a course and upgrade themselves from time to time,” said Dr. Nehru.
