Vietnamese delegation to inspect WA education facilities

9/5/94

Vietnamese Government and education officials are in Perth this week to discuss increased Western Australian involvement in helping Vietnam provide improved education and training services.

The six-person delegation - led by the Vice Minister of the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, Professor Tran Chi Dao - will spend a week inspecting education and training facilities and meeting State officials.

Education, Employment and Training Minister Norman Moore said today Vietnam was interested in further co-operation in education services regarding TAFE, teacher training and distance education.

Mr Moore said WA educationalists from Edith Cowan University and UWA had already been involved in developments in Vietnam concerning teacher training, education of rural and isolated populations and scholarly exchanges of academics and students.

Opportunities would increase because Vietnam was currently involved in a major restructuring and expansion of the country's education and training system.

Western Australia had already been at the forefront of the Australian States in developing strong relations with neighbours such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Education links with these countries already included staff exchange, training programs and curriculum development.

Mr Moore - who will address the Vietnamese delegation at an official dinner tonight - said Vietnam had expressed particular interest in the WA vocational education system, particularly the training of vocational education teachers, and the development of community colleges.

"Vietnam, with a population of about 70 million people, has similar problems relating to long distances, and WA has a lot to offer in helping with the development of their education and training systems," the Minister said.

"The lifting of the United States trade embargo in February and the resulting increase in the availability of foreign aid mean that pressure is increasing on Vietnam to upgrade education services."

Mr Moore said he was hopeful that the delegation's week-long visit would result in the development of a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnamese and the State Government.

"This could lead to more WA expertise being used through the provision of education advice and services from a variety of providers," he said.

Media contact:  Ross Storey 321 1444  222 9595