Kindergarten to Grade 12 Reforms in Viet Nam

Abstract

Viet Nam has evolved from one of the world's poorest countries in the 1990s to a lower middle-income country with a per capita income of $2,111 in 2015-more than 20 times larger than that in 1990 ($98). 1 To make the most of its middle-income stage of development and to avoid being perpetually trapped there, Viet Nam will need to create productive job opportunities, support intermediate technology, and promote research and development and innovation. Ranked 77th out of 140 countries on the Global Competitiveness Index 2018, Viet Nam's labor productivity levels are lower than other countries in the region. 2 A shortage of skills and gaps in the labor force is affecting the country's ability to absorb new foreign investment and limiting prospects for expanding productive employment (only 21.5% of the employed labor force has qualified skills-24.1% of men and 18.8% of women). 3 The education system needs to be reformed to give students equitable access to relevant skills.