The World Bank said Wednesday it approved US$177 million to support the further development of Vietnam’s primary and higher education systems.

“The economic crisis is a golden opportunity for Vietnam to reform its education sector as this will put the country on a firmer footing to come out of the economic crisis and to create a firm foundation for long-term growth,” she added.

In a statement dated June 23 from Washington DC, the WB said it recognized Vietnam’s progress in modernizing governance, financing, quality assurance and public financial management in the higher education sector.

According to the announcement, US$50 million from the credit line is for the first operation in Vietnam’s Higher Education Development Policy Program, and aims to enable the sector to continue expanding the number of places, while ensuring equitable access to relevant study programs.

The other US$127 million is for the School Education Quality Assurance Program, which pays special attention to disadvantaged primary education students by supporting the Government’s full-day schooling reform program, the WB said.

On the same day, the WB also approved two other Vietnam projects: a coastal cities project aimed at reducing river pollution in Quy Nhon City and a project aimed at building capacity to manage the vast bulk of polychlorinated biphenyls in the country.

Funding of US$12 million from the World Bank-administered Global Environment Facility will support both projects.

VietNamNet/SGGP