[Vnbiz] Fwd: English textbooks for Vietnamese

[Romi]

FYI
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The Straits Times
http://www.straitstimes.com
Jan 18, 2007

Provide English textbooks, MM tells Vietnamese
Access to latest information will give nation an economic edge

By Peh Shing Huei

HANOI -- MINISTER Mentor Lee Kuan Yew shared a tip with Vietnam
yesterday on how to stay ahead in the race for economic growth.

Start by introducing English textbooks in Vietnam's universities for
all technological subjects, he told Vietnam President Nguyen Minh Triet.

It would allow young Vietnamese to get the latest information and
connect better with the outside world.

Waiting for the textbooks to be translated into Vietnamese would be
too slow. 'You will be one, two, three editions behind time,' said Mr Lee.

The Internet, too, gives users of English language a greater
advantage over non-English speakers.

'So all the data that you want, all the information that you want, if
you know English, you can look it up,' he added.

Citing Singapore, he said it has gained a 'premium' by making English
its first language.

That is because all the international companies which come into
Singapore find a workforce that is 'up to speed, can communicate with
them, know their background, read the same textbooks'.

But that was an 'unexpected bonus', said MM Lee, as Singapore had not
anticipated that its bilingual policy would pay off in such a way.

On top of that, the bilingual policy had also contributed to a
thriving education industry.

Mr Lee told Mr Triet that about 50,000 China nationals are studying
in Singapore, eager to learn English but not at the expense of
becoming weak in their mother tongue, Mandarin.

The Vietnamese leader was in 'total agreement' with Mr Lee's
suggestion and said there was a need for training to be done in English.

He acknowledged that Vietnam had been 'a bit slow' in teaching
English and that it takes some time for the Vietnamese to switch from
learning Russian to English.

The Vietnamese were learning Russian, said Mr Triet, because of its
socialist ties with the former Soviet Union.

His meeting with MM Lee, from whom he wanted to hear how Vietnam can
make its economy as vibrant as possible, stretched to over one hour.

Mr Lee said that besides taking up English, it is also important to
have an educated and trained workforce and stable policies.

Income taxes, for both individuals and companies, must also be kept
low to lure investors.

Singapore, Hong Kong and Ireland have adopted the approach, he said,
and they have been successful in attracting investments.

Government revenue, he added, should be driven by consumption taxes
like the Goods and Services Tax.

To further attract investments, he suggested keeping the number of
rules to a minimum and having a one-stop centre for foreign investors.

Using Singapore's Economic Development Board as an example of a
one-stop centre, he said it lessened investors' frustrations and
exasperations because they do not need to 'run around', from one
ministry to another and from one agency to another.

Mr Triet replied that Vietnam has started offering such a one-stop
service for some time, but acknowledged that its implementation is
'not perfect'.

Besides the President, Mr Lee also met Vietnam Communist Party
general-secretary Nong Duc Manh yesterday in the capital.

Mr Lee leaves for Ho Chi Minh City today, the second stop in his
five-day visit of Vietnam.


-- 
~ Romi ~
http://romibleue.wordpress.com/about/
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