HÀ NỘI — The Prime Minister has approved a proposal to integrate lessons on human rights into the public school curricula.

The plan aims to raise awareness of students, educators and educational administrators about the importance of human rights; respect for the dignity, rights and freedom of others; civil responsibilities and civic duties.

From 2017 to 2020, human rights education programmes will be piloted in three provinces of three regions, with two schools per grade level. Within the higher education and vocational training system, three institutions of every major group will test the plan.

From 2020 to 2025, all educational facilities of the national education system will begin to teach human rights.

Kindergarten children will be equipped with basic elements of rights and responsibilities. Primary school students will be taught essential knowledge of human rights principles and values as well as children’s rights. Secondary school students will learn higher norms and standards including equality, tolerance and respect for differences. Moreover, high school students will learn about main human rights protection mechanisms.

Vocational trainees’ curricula will include the basic content of human and civil rights; protection mechanisms, and rights and obligations of employees and employers in labour relations.

Besides the elementary knowledge, university and college students will study the application of human rights as well as the opinions of the Communist Party of Việt Nam and the government in protecting civil and human rights.

During its 40 years of membership in the United Nations, Việt Nam has joined several international conventions on human rights. The country was also a UN Human Rights Council member between 2014 and 2016. — VNS