Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam (middle) and participants launch the programme in Hà Nội on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — A programme called Điều ước cho em (Wishes for children) was launched on Sunday to call for resources to support the development of education in extremely disadvantaged areas.

The programme is a joint effort from the Ministry of Education and Training, the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee, and the Việt Nam Red Cross Society, with an agreement signed about it the same day.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam said in many areas across the country, children are facing poor living and studying conditions.

He hoped the community will help take care of children, stressing the programme is expected to have the engagement of Party organisations, administrations in localities, organisations and businesses, providing poor students with nutritious meals and stable schools with playgrounds and hygienic toilets.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngô Thị Minh asked the education and training sectors in localities to advise local administrations on exploring the demands of students and teachers to update the requests to the programme's portal, whole working with relevant agencies to organise volunteer activities.

Donors can respond to the programme through the website portal at inhandao.vn/dieu-uoc-cho-em.

Currently, nearly 2,000 schools in 39 cities and provinces have registered to receive support on the portal, while 5,000 schools have submitted their specific needs.

Many domestic and foreign businesses have committed to supporting the building of schools and toilets, and providing lunch to 30,000 students as well as scholarships to poor students with a total value of VNĐ127 billion (US$5.51 million). — VNS