A classroom in Vinh City, Nghệ An Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Bích Huệ

HAMBURG —Two Vietnamese cities have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), along with 53 other cities from 27 countries.

Vinh City in the central province of Nghệ An and Sa Đéc City in the southern province of Đồng Tháp were recognised as outstanding examples of how lifelong learning can become a reality at a local level.

They have proven that effective lifelong learning policies and practices can support the development of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities.

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), as co-ordinator of the network, admitted the new members following their nomination by the National Commissions for UNESCO in the countries.

A strong commitment to lifelong learning by the city administration is key to becoming a learning city.

As part of their application process, potential UNESCO GNLC members must demonstrate a clear vision for providing lifelong learning opportunities for everyone in the community. Once admitted, cities are expected to take part in the activities of the network and to produce a biennial report outlining their achievements as learning cities.

Within the framework of the strategy for 2019–2021, the activities of the network focus on seven key priorities: education for sustainable development; equity and inclusion; educational planning, monitoring and evaluation; education for global citizenship; entrepreneurship; learning for health and well-being; and literacy.

The new member cities will be presented in an online event on Wednesday. 

UIL Director David Atchoarena said that the COVID-19 pandemic had underlined the necessity to build more resilient education systems for the future.

“With more than half of humanity living in urban areas, cities must be at the centre of this undertaking,” he said.

“During the pandemic, UNESCO learning cities from around the world have shown that they are well placed to make lifelong learning a reality, also under harsh conditions,’ Atchoarena added.

Võ Thanh Tùng, chairman of Sa Đéc City People’s Committee, said Sa Đéc becoming a learning city was an urgent requirement, helping the city soon access knowledge economies.

He said the city was envisioned to become a prosperous and sustainable city based on knowledge and learning to create more jobs, increase income and improve the lives of local people.

Trần Ngọc Tú, Chairman of People’s Committee of Vinh City said that the city is part of Nghệ An Province, a land with a long tradition of fondness for learning.

The city's educational network meets the diversified learning and development needs of its inhabitants, he said. — VNS