Vietnam is developing an educated society where everyone is able to pursue lifelong and continuous learning in a bid to enhance production capability, contributing to economic growth and sustainable development, said Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Study Encouragement Pham Tat Dong at a conference in Hanoi on September 8. The event was jointly held by the association, the Ministry of Education and Training and UNESCO in Vietnam to mark the 70th National and International Literacy Day (September 8). Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Dr Dong highlighted the importance of literacy, saying members of society need to equip themselves with other skills to be able to participate in social activities and occupations. Literacy education programmes should be implemented in close link with socio-economic development plans such as poverty reduction, hunger eradication and short-term vocational training, among others, Dong stressed. Muller-Marin, a representative of UNESCO to Vietnam, underlined literacy as the key driving force for sustainable development and the prerequisite condition to ensuring a sustainable society. She hailed Vietnam’s significant achievements in literacy development, especially among youth aged between 15 and 25, and called for improving knowledge of science and technology, information and communication and other fields. According to the departments of education and training, the national literacy rate among ages 15 to 35 is 98.69 percent. Nearly 100 percent of communes and communal level localities across the country meet literacy standards. The Ministry of Education and Training instructed localities to conduct communication campaigns to enhance community awareness of education with a focus on ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas, according to Nguyen Cong Hinh from the ministry. Management of the literacy programme’s implementation and the capacity of involved staff should be improved to enhance the quality and efficiency of the efforts.-VNA