LookAtVietnam – A plan calling for more investment to education and training and the health sector was approved by the municipal People’s Council in its 18th meeting session.

Parents take their children to a health centre in Ha Noi’s Thanh Tri district for a free check up.

Nguyen Manh Quyen, head of the Social and Cultural Planning Division under the Ha Noi Department of Planning and Investment, said the plan aims to have a total capital of VND7.5 trillion ($436 million), of which most would be spent on education and training.

“(If it is raised), VND5.4 trillion (US$318 million) will be for investment in education and the remaining amount spent in the public health sector,” said Quyen.

Funding that the Government has already earmarked for the plan comes from the capital city’s municipal budget.

Quyen said the expansion of the city had called for greater investment in the education and health sectors, particularly as the city had achieved considerable progress in gradually privatising these two sectors.

The plan has been developed by various relevant authorities, including the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Health.

Nguyen The Son, deputy head of the Finance and Planning Division under the municipal Department of Education and Training, said the plan strived to provide education for everyone, particularly the poor.

“The plan includes a pilot programme for 30 to 35 public schools to self-finance and self-manage their own operations,” said Son.

“It will also call for investment to construct 60 to 70 private schools ranging from kindergartens to high schools.”

Son said foreign investment was encouraged and could take the form of wholly-owned foreign investments or joint ventures.

“We aim to gradually globally integrate Viet Nam’s education system,” said Son.

In the health sector, the plan aims to build eight private hospitals with a total of 3,170 beds, for which the municipal People’s Committee has allotted more than 23ha of land.

Quyen said an application for land clearance of 38.1ha for 10 other private hospitals with accommodation of 2,800 beds was expected to be completed soon.

“The municipal People’s Committee will provide support for land clearance, which has always been a challenge for investors,” he said.

Quyen added that the project would solve the shortage of beds and staff at public hospitals and provide better health care for people.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News