The Hanoi People's Committee has asked the Department of Education and Training to keep researching and advising the city on making concrete plans to join UNESCO's Global Network of Learning Cities.

The request was made in a document signed by Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha to work toward fulfilling the goals set by the Vietnamese government and ensure effective tasks for the 2024-2025 school year.

The municipal Department of Education and Training is tasked to strengthen the responsibility of state management in selecting, supplying, and using textbooks and educational materials in localities.

Meanwhile, other agencies and districts are asked to supplement the number of teachers, especially preschool teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. 

A training session for preschool teachers in Hanoi for the 2024-2025 academic year. Photo: VGP

According to the document the city has achieved all four basic goals of the government's plan to build a learning society and has even surpassed some of them. Specifically, the literacy rate of people aged 15 to 60 reached over 99%, while the national rate is 97.8%. The number of cadres and officials trained to meet the prescribed standards reached 100% (compared to the national rate of 94%). In the 2012-2020 period, Hanoi was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Ministry of Education and Training for its excellent performance in building a learning society.

"Hanoi has made great progress in promoting studies, nurturing talents, and building a learning society, thanks to the important contribution of the Hanoi Study Promotion Association, one of the core units in building a learning society," stated the document. The association has more than 1.5 million members across the city; the number of "studying family" accounted for 71% of the total; the model of "learning citizen" is being built and replicated.

To achieve better results in the work of study promotion in the coming period, the Hanoi Study Promotion Association is tasked to carry out tasks, such as advising the city to promote study promotion, nurturing talents, and building a learning society.

"The association must speed up digital transformation and application of information technology in the association's activities; coordinate with agencies, departments, and industries to provide various forms of training," according to the document.

The association has been actively consulting on strengthening international cooperation, especially with UNESCO; researching and exchanging experiences; enlisting the help of international and local organizations to nurture talents and build a "learning society."

According to Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong, Hanoi has over 2,900 kindergartens and general schools at all levels (an increase of 39 compared to the same period last year), and 29 vocational education centers.

"The rate of public schools meeting national standards in the city is nearly 80%; 23 high-quality schools have been recognized. Preparations are underway to build seven advanced and modern inter-level schools on an area of ​​5 hectares or more in the city," Cuong said.

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an international network comprising cities that successfully promote lifelong learning across their communities. The network now includes 356 member cities from all around the world that share inspiration, know-how, and best practices with each other.

"Cities are key to transforming the right to education into a tangible reality for individuals of all ages. They revitalize learning in families and communities and facilitate learning in the workplace while extending the use of modern learning technologies,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.