Central Highlands provinces have prioritised investment in education for ethnic minority groups, contributing to fostering socio-economic development in the region, according to the Central Highlands Steering Committee.

After national liberation in 1975, the localities have seen a significant increase in the number of academic facilities thanks to regional investment in education.

As many as 3,423 schools and 49,244 classes have been built to meet public demand. To date, most communes in the region have their own kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools.

For the 2014-2015 academic year, Dak Lak province is offering classes at 987 schools, a sixfold increase from 1975.

The Central Highlands built 57 ethnic group boarding schools and 86 semi-boarding schools o accommodate students from remote areas.

Universities and colleges also expanded in both scale and specialities to meet the regional demands for human resources. The provinces also assigned 2,034 ethnic students to pursue their studies in other colleges and universities nationwide to foster high quality labour serving the socio-economic development in the region.

Ethnic language teaching programmes are also being promoted; Dak Lak province is teaching Ede in 86 primary schools and 12 boarding schools and Dak Nong has given Ede, M’nong and Ma lessons to teachers in ethnic minority regions.

The provinces have carried out policies benefiting ethnic minority students, including the provisions of books, learning supplies, tuition fees, exam fees, transport fees and health insurance.

The Central Highlands comprise five provinces of Lam Dong, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Kon Tum.-VNA