Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has asked the national education sector to take responsibility for improving the quality of Vietnamese human resources.

He was speaking at a conference in Hanoi on December 28 that reviewed the implementation of the 8th Party Central Committee Plenum’s Resolution on basic and comprehensive education and training reform in the context of a market economy and international integration, as well as the 2012–2013 academic year.

Approximately half of Vietnam’s human resources are untrained, and as many as 30 percent of tertiary institution graduates remain unemployed, the Deputy Prime Minister was quoted by Radio the Voice of Vietnam as saying.

He was concerned Vietnam risks falling behind its regional competitors, especially in terms of education and training. Vietnam should commit to comprehensive educational reform as soon as possible.

He suggested the education sector focus on bringing Vietnamese tertiary institutional quality up to international standards. Successfully doing so requires concerted effort from relevant agencies, localities, and society as a whole.-VNA