The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho has successfully fought illiteracy and popularised elementary-level education, declared Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Hong on March 5.

All of its districts have regular education centres while its communes and towns have community-based learning centres.

For many years, the department, in coordination with the media, has raised public awareness of the importance of life-long learning and building a more knowledgeable society.

By last December, Can Tho saw all communes and towns meet criteria to popularise secondary-level education. Over 7,400 out of 9,300 students graduated from secondary and high schools, moving on to vocational colleges.

Several localities, however, still see low rate of enrolment in pre-schools.

This year, the department will work more actively to promote pre-school education while calling for more support in terms of equipment and facilities. It will strive to have all 6-year-old children start their education and minimise dropouts.

The city will also host a week promoting a life-long learning campaign./.