Cablegate: Educating Ethnic Minority Students in the North

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

030717Z Dec 02

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9213

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INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00
DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 ED-01 OIGO-00 FBIE-00
UTED-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
------------------11C5D7 030745Z /38
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8244
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 HANOI 002885

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PGOV PINS PHUM VM ETMIN
SUBJECT: EDUCATING ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS IN THE NORTH

REF: A. 01 HANOI 3302 B. 01 HANOI 2963

1. (U) SUMMARY. THE GVN HAS MADE, AND CONTINUES TO MAKE,
CONCERTED EFFORTS TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THE NATION, NOT ONLY TO UNIVERSALIZE EVER-HIGHER
UNCLASSIFIED

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LEVELS OF EDUCATION BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE NEW OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES. SPECIAL PROGRAMS HAVE SET UP A
SERIES OF SCHOLARSHIPS, FREE BOARDING SCHOOLS, AND POTS OF
MONEY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED TO SCHOOLS AND OTHER LOCAL
NEEDS FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES. OFFICIALS ON THE GROUND
STRUGGLE WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, HOWEVER, AND OFTEN ARE
UNABLE TO MEET GOALS RELATED TO USE OF MINORITY LANGUAGE AT
THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, OR COMPUTER TRAINING AT THE HIGH
SCHOOL LEVEL. END SUMMARY.

-----------------
PRIORITY ON PAPER
-----------------

2. (U) EDUCATION IN GENERAL, AND FOR ETHNIC MINORITY
STUDENTS SPECIFICALLY, EMERGED AS A PRIORITY ISSUE DURING
THE ONGOING 2ND SESSION OF THE 11TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ALONG
WITH OVERALL EFFORTS TO ASSIST "DISADVANTAGED" AND
MOUNTAINOUS AREAS. MINISTER OF FINANCE NGUYEN SINH HUNG
ANNOUNCED IN PARTICULAR THAT INVESTMENT FOR EDUCATION AND
INFRASTRUCTURE UNDER PROGRAM 135 IN 2003 WILL RISE TO
BETWEEN 800 MILLION DONG (USD53,000) AND 1 BILLION DONG
(USD67,000) IN EACH REMOTE COMMUNE IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, UP
FROM 500 MILLION DONG (USD33,000) IN 2002. (ABOUT 2000
COMMUNES AND VILLAGES IN CAO BANG AND BAC KAN PROVINCES,
VISITED BY POL/C AND FSN NOVEMBER 19-22, ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER
THIS PROGRAM, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS AT THE ETHNIC
MINORITIES COMMISSION, ALTHOUGH THESE PROVINCES HAVE ONLY 10
AND 22 ONGOING PROJECTS, RESPECTIVELY.)

3. (U) ARTICLE 36 OF THE VIETNAMESE CONSTITUTION NOT ONLY
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SPECIFIES "PRIORITY INVESTMENT TO EDUCATION" BUT ALSO
RESERVES SPECIAL PRIORITY FOR "EDUCATIONAL WORK IN THE
HIGHLANDS, IN REGIONS INHABITED BY NATIONAL MINORITIES, AND
IN REGIONS ENCOUNTERING SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES." ARTICLE 4
ENSHRINES THE RIGHT FOR EVERY NATIONALITY TO "USE ITS OWN
LANGUAGE AND SYSTEM OF WRITING," AS WELL AS "TO PRESERVE ITS
NATIONAL IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE ITS FINE CUSTOMS, HABITS,
TRADITIONS AND CULTURE." IN PRINCIPLE, ACCORDING TO THE
ETHNIC MINORITIES COMMISSION, EDUCATION AT THE ELEMENTARY-
LEVEL SHOULD BE BOTH IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE AND VIETNAMESE,
WHILE SWITCHING EXCLUSIVELY TO VIETNAMESE AT THE JUNIOR HIGH
SCHOOL-LEVEL AND ABOVE.

4. (U) THE SIXTH PLENUM OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF
VIETNAM'S (CPV) 9TH CONGRESS IN SUMMER 2002 HIGHLIGHTED
EDUCATION, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE "TRAINING OF ETHNIC
MINORITY PERSONNEL" AND A REMINDER THAT "STUDENTS IN THE
HIGHLANDS, REMOTE AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS ARE ENTITLED TO
RECEIVE FREE EDUCATION AND TRAINING AS WELL AS TEXTBOOKS."

--------------------
OVERSIGHT FROM HANOI
--------------------

5. (U) OFFICIALS FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND
TRAINING (MOET) DESCRIBED TO POL/C A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS,
BEGINNING ESPECIALLY WITH 1991'S PROGRAM SEVEN, DESIGNED TO
PROMOTE EDUCATION IN REMOTE AREAS AS WELL AS TO BRING MORE
REMOTE STUDENTS INTO ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION. MAIN GOALS ARE FIRST TO ENSURE THAT ETHNIC
MINORITY STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM UNIVERSAL PRIMARY
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EDUCATION (MOET OFFICIALS ADMIT THAT, AS OF NOW, ONLY ABOUT
80 PCT OF ETHNIC MINORITY ELEMENTARY-AGE STUDENTS ATTEND
SCHOOL, DESPITE THE GVN'S CLAIM TO HAVE ACHIEVED UNIVERSAL
PRIMARY EDUCATION ALREADY) AND LATER TO MEET THE GVN TARGET
OF UNIVERSAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (9TH GRADE) EDUCATION BY
2010. "BASICALLY, WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ETHNIC STUDENTS
ARE ABLE TO STUDY TO JUST AS HIGH LEVELS AS KINH" STUDENTS,
ACCORDING TO ONE OFFICIAL. MOET'S VICE DIRECTOR FOR
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION NOTED THAT THE GVN SOUGHT TO ENSURE
"EQUALITY EDUCATION" FOR ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF ETHNIC
BACKGROUND AND PROVINCE OF RESIDENCE. OFFICIALS ADMIT THAT
CHALLENGES INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE REMOTE LOCATIONS,
DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITING QUALIFIED TEACHERS, AND LANGUAGE
BARRIERS, BUT ALSO THE REALITY THAT MANY MINORITY FAMILIES
THEMSELVES HAVE YET TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF
EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS.

6. (U) TO PROMOTE HIGHER EDUCATION, BOARDING SCHOOLS AT
THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH LEVEL LEVELS EXIST IN MOST
PROVINCES WITH HIGH ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS (REF A);
ACCORDING TO MOET, THERE ARE 109 ETHNIC HIGH SCHOOLS
NATIONWIDE. ETHNIC STUDENTS WHO ATTEND ALSO RECEIVE
STIPENDS OF AT LEAST 60,000 DONG/MONTH (USD 4), AS WELL AS
FREE ROOM AND BOARD AND TUITION. THERE ARE EXTRA STIPENDS
FOR THOSE WITH OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. ETHNIC MINORITY

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9214

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ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00
DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 ED-01 OIGO-00 FBIE-00
UTED-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
------------------11C5E3 030745Z /38
R 030717Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8245
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 HANOI 002885

SIPDIS

STUDENTS ALSO MAY STUDY TUITION-FREE AT UNIVERSITY IF THEY
QUALIFY; MOET OFFICIALS SAID THAT THESE STUDENTS ARE GIVEN
"PRIORITY IN TESTING," I.E., THEY CAN OFTEN QUALIFY WITH
LOWER TEST RESULTS. THERE ARE ALSO "SPECIAL COURSES" TO
HELP THEM PREPARE BOTH FOR THE EXAMINATIONS AND FOR
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UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM, ACCORDING TO MOET. MOET'S HOPE,
ACCORDING TO ITS STUDENT AFFAIRS OFFICIALS, IS THAT ETHNIC
MINORITY STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO THEIR HOME AREAS ONCE THEY
HAVE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR UNIVERSITY, IN MOST CASES
TO BECOME LOCAL CADRES.

7. (U) OFFICIALS AT THE ETHNIC MINORITIES COMMISSION NOTED
THAT CAO BANG PROVINCE HAD THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF ETHNIC
MINORITY RESIDENTS -- 96.07 PCT OF THE POPULATION -- WHILE
ANOTHER EIGHT PROVINCES HAD MORE THAN 50 PCT ETHNIC MINORITY
POPULATIONS. (ALL ARE IN THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS,
EXCEPT KON TUM IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, WHERE THE
POPULATION IS 53.02 PCT ETHNIC MINORITIES). THEY CONFIRMED
THAT ONLY ABOUT 80 PCT OF ELEMENTARY-AGE STUDENTS IN THESE
TWO PROVINCES ATTEND SCHOOL SO FAR, WHILE CLAIMING THAT ALL
VILLAGES IN CAO BANG AND BAC KAN NOW HAVE ELECTRICITY AND
HEALTH CENTERS (AS IMPROBABLE AS THIS SOUNDS), WITH ABOUT 90
PCT OF VILLAGES REACHABLE BY ROAD AND HAVING POST OFFICES.

----------------------------------
ON THE GROUND REALITIES: CAO BANG
----------------------------------

8. (U) ACCORDING TO CAO BANG PROVINCIAL VICE CHAIRMAN
HOANG VAN KHOI, THE PROVINCE WAS "VERY CONCERNED" WITH
EDUCATION, AND HAD REACHED UNIVERSAL ELEMENTARY EDUCATION IN
1979 (CONTRARY TO ASSERTIONS IN HANOI -- SEE ABOVE). HE
ADMITTED THAT ONLY ABOUT 37 PCT OF JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE
RESIDENTS WERE IN SCHOOL AS OF 2002, HOWEVER. HE DESCRIBED
THE SYSTEM OF SIX BOARDING SCHOOLS -- FIVE AT THE JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL-LEVEL AND ONE AT THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL-LEVEL -
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PAGE 03 HANOI 02885 02 OF 04 030745Z
- THAT PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION, ROOM, BOARD, BOOKS,
NOTEBOOKS, AND OTHER SUPPLIES TO THEIR STUDENTS. ABOUT 16
PCT OF CAO BANG FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE GVN POVERTY LEVEL,
DOWN FROM 20 PCT IN 1999, VICE CHAIRMAN KHOI ASSERTED.

9. (U) DESPITE CONSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER ADMONITIONS TO
EMPLOY LOCAL LANGUAGES WHEN POSSIBLE, CAO BANG ONLY HAS
"SOME" ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT OFFER THE DUAL LANGUAGE
TRACK, KHOI (HIMSELF AN ETHNIC TAY) ADMITTED. HE CLAIMED
THAT CHILDREN COULD "LEARN THEIR LOCAL LANGUAGE AT HOME."
TEACHERS WHO DO NOT COME FROM THE SAME LOCAL ETHNIC MINORITY
ARE NOT GIVEN LANGUAGE TRAINING, BUT "PICK UP THE LOCAL
LANGUAGE ON THEIR OWN," HE ADDED. HE NOTED THAT MALE/FEMALE
STUDENT RATIOS WERE ABOUT EVEN, AND CLAIMED THAT ATTITUDES
TOWARD THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION DEPENDED LESS ON ETHNIC
MINORITY THAN ON ECONOMIC/EDUCATIONAL STATUS: BETTER OFF,
BETTER EDUCATED RESIDENTS OF ALL ETHNIC GROUPS TENDED BETTER
TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

10. (U) AS ELSEWHERE IN VIETNAM, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IS
BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT IN CAO BANG. VICE CHAIRMAN KHOI
SAID THAT THE PROVINCE NOW HAS THREE VOCATIONAL TRAINING
CENTERS -- TWO AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AND ONE IN THE
PROVINCIAL CAPITAL -- BUT ADDED THAT REGULAR SCHOOLS
INCREASINGLY ALSO OFFERED CRAFT TRAINING SUCH AS CARPENTRY,
SEWING, ELECTRICITY, ETC.

11. (U) THE PRINCIPAL OF CAO BANG'S SENIOR HIGH-LEVEL
BOARDING SCHOOL FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES DESCRIBED HIS MISSION
AS "TRAINING CADRES," WITH HOPES THAT THEY WOULD RETURN TO
THEIR HOME VILLAGES. (A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PROVINCIAL
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HASTENED TO CORRECT THE PRINCIPAL,
HOWEVER, CLAIMING THAT THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO PROVIDE GENERAL
EDUCATION AS WELL AS CADRE TRAINING; ONLY ABOUT 60 PCT OF
THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES END UP AS CADRES, HE NOTED.)
BEGINNING WITH ONLY 40 STUDENTS IN 1982, THE SCHOOL'S
CURRENT 400 STUDENTS REPRESENT ALL EIGHT ETHNIC GROUPS FROM
THE PROVINCE, PRIMARILY TAY, AND HAVE ABOUT A 50/50
MALE/FEMALE RATIO. TEACHERS ARE PREDOMINANTLY FEMALE,
HOWEVER. ABOUT 30 PCT GO ON TO STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY
LEVEL, WITH ABOUT 5-7 PCT AT ONE OF THE THREE CENTRAL-LEVEL
UNIVERSITIES. "ALMOST ALL" STUDENTS EVENTUALLY RETURN TO
THEIR HOME AREAS, HE CLAIMED, ALTHOUGH MANY MIGHT RATHER
STAY IN THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OR ANOTHER LARGER CITY BUT
CANNOT FIND EMPLOYMENT.

12. (U) THE CAO BANG SCHOOL BEGAN TEACHING ENGLISH IN
1997, BUT STILL DOES NOT OFFER ANY COMPUTER TRAINING; THE
ONLY COMPUTER IS IN THE MAIN SCHOOL OFFICE, THE PRINCIPAL
ADMITTED. HE NOTED THAT HE WAS "APPLYING" FOR MONEY TO
OBTAIN 30-40 COMPUTERS AND HIRE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
TEACHERS, WITH A "HOPE" OF ACHIEVING THIS GOAL IN 2003 OR
2004. (THE PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
REPRESENTATIVE AT THE MEETING WAS NOTICEABLY SILENT
REGARDING PROSPECTS FOR THIS REQUEST.) HE NOTED THAT
VOCATIONAL CLASSES AT THE SCHOOL WERE "MANDATORY" BUT

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9218

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INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00
DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 ED-01 OIGO-00 FBIE-00
UTED-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
------------------11C5EE 030746Z /38
R 030717Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8246
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 HANOI 002885

SIPDIS

STUDENTS COULD CHOOSE WHICH COURSE TO FOLLOW. HE STRESSED
THAT THERE WERE "NO SOCIAL PROBLEMS" AT THE SCHOOL DESPITE
THE MIXING OF THE SEXES -- NO HIV/AIDS, NO PREMARITAL SEX,
NO THEFT -- AND THAT ALL DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS GOT ALONG
WELL. GIRLS AND BOYS SLEPT IN DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, WITH
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EVENING GUARDS AND CURFEWS. DORMITORY ROOMS WERE BASIC,
WITH 8-10 BEDS (BUNK-BED STYLE) AND NO DESKS OR CUPBOARDS.
THREE MEALS A DAY ARE OFFERED IN A COMMON AREA AND WERE
FREE, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE AT THE SCHOOL (INCLUDING AT LEAST
ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHING PER YEAR). STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVED
FUNDS TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME VILLAGES AT TET AND DURING THE
SUMMER HOLIDAYS, HE ADDED.

------------
POOR BAC KAN
------------

13. (U) THE MAIN CLAIM TO FAME NOWADAYS OF BAC KAN, WHICH
BECAME A SEPARATE PROVINCE ONLY IN 1997, IS AS THE HOMETOWN
OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF VIETNAM GENERAL SECRETARY NONG DUC
MANH. ACCORDING TO PROVINCIAL VICE CHAIRMAN NONG VAN LENH,
ABOUT 32 PCT OF BAC KAN FAMILIES STILL LIVE BELOW THE
POVERTY LEVEL, ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO REDUCE
THIS BY ABOUT 5 PCT PER YEAR. SEPARATELY, THE DIRECTOR OF
THE PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING NOTED
THAT AT LEAST 19 PCT OF BAC KAN'S 74,00-PLUS STUDENTS
SUFFERED FROM MALNUTRITION, DOWN FROM 40 PCT ONLY A FEW
YEARS AGO. (A USDA-FUNDED PROGRAM CARRIED OUT BY LAKE
O'LAKES PROVIDES SOME WELCOME ASSISTANCE AT ABOUT 124
SCHOOLS, BENEFITING OVER 40,000 STUDENTS.)

14. (U) VICE CHAIRMAN LENH STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE THE
PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT PLACES ON EDUCATION, INCLUDING 4
DISTRICT-LEVEL AND ONE PROVINCIAL-LEVEL BOARDING HIGH
SCHOOLS (WITH A TOTAL OF 1,128 STUDENTS IN THE 2002-2003
SCHOOL YEAR), AS WELL AS 828 STUDENTS IN FOUR DISTRICT-LEVEL
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JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS. TEACHERS ARE GIVEN SPECIAL PAY TO GO
TO REMOTE AND MOUNTAINOUS AREAS (ABOUT 75 PCT BONUS FOR
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS, AND 40 PCT FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHERS), HE NOTED. HE CLAIMED THAT 99 PCT OF ELEMENTARY
AGE STUDENTS WERE NOW IN SCHOOL (THE EDUCATION CHIEF
SEPARATELY CLAIMED ONLY 97 PCT), WITH A PROVINCIAL GOAL OF
UNIVERSAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BY 2005 (AHEAD OF
THE NATIONAL GOAL).

14. (U) VICE CHAIRMAN LENH ADMITTED THAT "BASICALLY, ALL
EDUCATION WAS IN VIETNAMESE," WITH NO SPECIFIC PLANS TO USE
LOCAL LANGUAGES. MANY TEACHERS ONLY STAY IN REMOTE
LOCATIONS FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS BEFORE ROTATING TO MORE
DESIRABLE LOCATIONS, HE NOTED, CITING "NUMEROUS
DIFFICULTIES." HE POINTED TO SOME DIFFERENCES IN OUTLOOK,
CLAIMING THAT "THOSE ETHNIC MINORITIES WHO HAVE MORE CONTACT
WITH KINH SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION." GIRLS IN BAC
KAN ARE MORE APT TO STUDY LONGER THAN BOYS, HE ADDED,
ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY LIMITATIONS ON HIGHER EDUCATION ARE NOT
ATTITUDINAL BUT RATHER RELATED TO DISTANCE AND ECONOMIC WELL-
BEING.

15. (U) THE PROVINCIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR ADMITTED THAT
FINDING QUALIFIED TEACHERS REMAINED A PERENNIAL PROBLEM, AS
DO BUDGETARY LIMITATIONS. ONLY ABOUT 35 SCHOOLS HAVE
LIBRARIES, HE NOTED, WHILE "VERY FEW" HAVE ANY SORT OF
COMPUTER TRAINING. THERE IS ONLY ONE VOCATIONAL TRAINING
CENTER IN THE PROVINCE (TRAINING BARBERS, MECHANICS,
PHOTOGRAPHERS, ETC.), WITH "PLANS" TO SET UP "ONE OR TWO
MORE" IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, HE ADDED.

UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 04 HANOI 02885 03 OF 04 030746Z
16. (U) BAC KAN'S SOLE SENIOR HIGH BOARDING SCHOOL FOR
ETHNIC MINORITIES, LOCATED ON THE SOMEWHAT DERELICT PREMISES
OF THE PREVIOUS PROVINCIAL TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGE (WHICH
HAS AN IMPRESSIVE NEW CAMPUS NEXT DOOR) NOW HAS 300 STUDENTS
(OF WHOM 184 ARE GIRLS), ACCORDING TO ITS PRINCIPAL.
SIMILAR TO HIS CAO BANG EQUIVALENT, THE PRINCIPAL DESCRIBED
HIS GOAL AS "BUILDING ETHNIC CADRES," WITH 1039 GRADUATES
SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1991. ONLY ABOUT 50 PCT HAVE
RETURNED TO WORK IN THEIR HOME VILLAGES, HE ADMITTED,
ALTHOUGH ABOUT 90 PCT HAVE BECOME CADRES (PRESUMABLY,
WORKING IN OTHER DISTRICTS OR AT THE PROVINCIAL-LEVEL). AS
AT OTHER SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT COVERS ALL EXPENSES AND
PAYS FOR THE TWO TRIPS HOME EACH YEAR PER STUDENT. THERE
ARE NO COMPUTERS, OR PLANS TO OBTAIN THEM IN THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE, HE ADDED, HOWEVER.

-------
COMMENT
-------

17. (U) THE GVN IS CLEARLY DEVOTING SIGNIFICANT, AND
INCREASING, RESOURCES TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ITS FAR-FLUNG ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS. EQUALLY
CLEAR IS THE COMMITMENT OF PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT OFFICIALS
TO CARRY OUT THESE PROGRAMS, HAMPERED BY VERY REAL AND STILL

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED PTQ9219

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ACTION EAP-00

INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 ACQ-00 CIAE-00 DINT-00 DODE-00
DOEE-00 SRPP-00 DS-00 EB-00 ED-01 OIGO-00 FBIE-00
UTED-00 VC-00 HHS-01 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
JUSE-00 L-00 VCE-00 AC-01 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OIC-02
OMB-01 OPIC-01 PA-00 PER-00 PM-00 PRS-00 ACE-00
P-00 SP-00 STR-00 TEST-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00 PMB-00
DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /010W
------------------11C5F0 030746Z /38
R 030717Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8247
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 04 OF 04 HANOI 002885

SIPDIS

UNRESOLVED BUDGETARY RESTRAINTS. THE GVN'S COMMITMENT TO
EQUALIZING THE PLAYING FIELD BETWEEN MINORITIES AND MAJORITY
KINH IS NOT REFLECTED, HOWEVER, IN THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE ON
A PRIORITY BASIS ITEMS SUCH AS BASIC COMPUTERS (IN CONTRAST
TO REGULAR HIGH SCHOOLS VISITED ELSEWHERE ALONG THE COAST
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HANOI 02885 04 OF 04 030746Z
BETWEEN HO CHI MINH CITY AND HANOI -- SEE REF B) OR TO PUT
GREATER EMPHASIS ON DUAL LANGUAGE EDUCATION.
BURGHARDT

UNCLASSIFIED

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