The findings of a study carried out by a Plan-supported youth media club have been handed to the Ministry of Education in Vietnam to call for better education.

Children from the Cam Khe district Young Media Club (YMC) interviewed children who had dropped out of school and presented photos and radio broadcasts that highlighted the high school drop-out rate as well as the lack of infrastructure and teaching aids, money for tuition and poor awareness in adults of the importance of education.

Speaking out

Tran Quang Hung from grade 8 said: I enjoyed developing the education dossier very much, because I could interview parents, teachers and children who have had to drop out of school. It helps me to understand why children, especially children in remote areas, have to leave school.”

The YMC is in Phu Tho - a mountainous province with a high rate of school drop outs and a poor awareness of the importance of education.

In April 2008, Phu Tho took part in a Plan-supported national campaign called Global Action Week for Education. The annual event is held by a coalition of international organisations in Vietnam, as part of the Global Campaign for Education.

It called for local authorities, organisations and education sectors to take responsibility for ensuring all children have access to quality education and aimed to raise awareness among teachers, students, parents and the public of the importance of quality schooling.