Delegates attend the ceremony to announce the Phase II of project “We are ABLE – Promoting Gender Equality and Girls’ Education for Children in Ethnic Minority areas of Việt Nam”. — Photo nhandan.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — The UNESCO Office in Việt Nam on Wednesday announced the second phase of the project “We are ABLE – Promoting Gender Equality and Girls’ Education for Children in Ethnic Minority areas of Việt Nam” with ABLE stands for the project's slogan "Achieving Better Living and Education", which emphasises confidence in the ability of ethnic minority children, especially girls, to overcome challenges.

The phase will be implemented in Cao Bằng, Kon Tum, and Ninh Thuận provinces, aiming to empower ethnic minority youth, especially girls and young women, in boarding secondary schools and neighbouring communities to overcome stereotypes and to voice and act on their dreams, hopes, and aspirations in education.

Speaking at the event, Justine Sass, Chief of the Section of Education for Inclusion and Gender Equality of UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, said that education can be a true source of empowerment when it addresses the gender-based barriers, stigma, and discrimination that hold learners back from fulfilling their right to education and future life, work and leadership opportunities.

"We must harness education's power to unlock the potential of learners in all of their diversity and transform educational institutions to achieve just, equal, and inclusive societies", she shared.

UNESCO Representative to Việt Nam Christian Manhart said that the project is expected to contribute to the Vietnamese Government's new 10-year Education Development Strategic Plan, the Strategy for Ethnic Minority Development, and the national commitment to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 4 on Education and Goal 5 on gender equality.

The first phase of the project was implemented from 2019 to 2022 in 12 districts of three provinces – Hà Giang, Ninh Thuận, and Sóc Trăng, reaching about 16,300 students including over 8,000 girls.

Across the 24 beneficiary schools, among ethnic minority learners, drop-out rates dropped from 3.8 per cent to 2.9 per cent, and transition rates to upper-secondary rose from 69.7 per cent to 76.7 per cent.

Over 2,130 teachers and educational administrators were trained on gender-responsive school counselling.

Furthermore, 120 ethnic minority women and youth joined entrepreneurship training courses and received support through the Women's Union in communes. — VNS