The idea of building a learning society is to create equal opportunities for all individuals to study regularly and for the whole life, experts said at a workshop on October 1 in northern Phu Tho province.

The event offered a chance for over 150 delegates from 24 northern cities and provinces to discuss concepts and share experience in implementing plans under the national project on building a learning society in 2012-2020 which was approved by the Prime Minister in 2013.

The project has gained positive outcomes in reforming general education and developing the community-based learning system, thus catering for the demand of people of all ages, said Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Vinh Hien.

Vietnam is now home to 721 continuing education establishments and more than 10,900 community-based learning centres.

Participants however said there are gaps among localities in the field, proposing that more policy dialogues be held at both central and local levels to raise awareness about the characteristics of the learning society that Vietnam is striving to build.

They also suggested measures and mechanisms to facilitate the building of a learning society at the grassroots level.

The workshop is only one among a wide range of activities such as seminars, workshops and book-reading festivals which are being held nationwide in response to the life-long learning week that was launched on September 29.-VNA