At the event (Photo: VNA) Over the past two years, COVID-19 has affected at least 180million children and adolescents in ASEAN countries, while 35 million studentswere unable to attend schools due to closures.
In the 18 months leading to May 2022, schools had to close 136days on average, negatively impacting the physical and mental development ofstudents in the region, he noted, stressing that the consequence of thepandemic may become more serious if countries do not act immediately.
He said he hopes the region will be ready to respond to futurechallenges that may seriously harm and interrupt studies by building a moreflexible and self-reliant education system.
Deputy PM Dam said that the 680 million-strong ASEAN region,with the fifth largest economy in the world, has defined education as a top priority and one of thethree goals stated in the ASEAN Charter.
In Vietnam, considering education is the top national policy,the country spends at least 20% of its budget on education each year, he added.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Education and Training NguyenKim Son said that with the motto of “education should be based on principle ofcooperation, collaboration and solidarity”, Vietnam has chosen the theme"Joint efforts to reimagine learning and building resilience of educationsystems in ASEAN and beyond in the new context" for its working tenure asthe Chair of the ASEAN education cooperation.
In the position as chair in 2022-2023, Vietnam has identified a number of priorities, focusing on taking care of and protecting learners’mental health, enhancing education on environmental protection and climatechange, ensuring access to equitable and quality education for learners,especially disadvantaged groups, promoting comprehensive digital transformationand ensuring cyber safety for learners, and promoting innovation in highereducation to meet development requirements.
Over the past year, these priorities have been realised, he said, pledging thatVietnam will exert every effort to implement the priorities and majororientations of ASEAN education.
At the event, ASEAN education ministers shared educationand training development in their respective countries. They also updated the implementation of the ASEANaction plan for 2021-2025.
They agreed on the necessity of safely reopening schools andincreasing the adaptability of the education system in ASEAN against futurepandemics, disasters and emergencies. The need for digital transformation inthe education systems in ASEAN and ensuring the mental health and welfare ofstudents were also highlighted at the summit.
On October 14, Minister Son will chair the sixth ASEAN+3Education Minister Meeting and the sixth ASEAN-EAS Education Summit, which willgather officials from ASEAN countries, the Republic of Korea, Japan, China, theUS, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and India./.
VNA
