[Vnbiz] Interesting article by former PM

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear Brother Giang,

There is another thing that we need to clarify.  When we talk about college
quality, we talk about college education by itself.  But when I talk about
putting a college where there is no college, I am talking about rural
development--using the college as the first motivation and engine for
development.

Say, if you build a little college in a rural are, the local population
will be excited enough (presumably) to think about minimum infrastructure to
support the college, like maintaining minimum accessibility for the roads
leading to the college, electricity and water for the college, Internet
access  for the college, etc.   With all that thinking and motivation in
their mind, chances are it would be easier to get the local population to
work toward their goals.  And local talents are produces in the area,
business may develop better. Say, some students may open their own business,
or some companies may be more willing to open branches in that area, etc.
And when business develops, other things like infrastructure and healthcare
may follow.  And better infrastructure and healthcare may stimulate more
business.  The stimulation circle has started.

In sum, in a development strategy, we always need to pick something as the
main locomotive.  Some people will pick  infrastructure, or healthcare,
or microcredits.  I pick education.  It doesn't mean I ignore other things.
It only means that I use education as the first thing that will stimulate
all other things.  (Note:  In my opinion, a plan that have three, four or
ten things at the same level is not a good plan.  A good plan always needs
to have ONE very strong focus), with other things at the secondary level,
not necessarily because the one at the top level is more important than
other things at the secondary level, but because the one at the top has the
ability to stimulate all other things.

Have a great day!

Hoanh


2008/4/14 Tran Dinh Hoanh <tdhoanh at gmail.com>:

> Dear Brother Giang,
> I have heard people say the same thing: "The problem here is quality and
> not number of colleges."  But that is a different issue.  Where there is at
> least one college in existence, the issue may be quality.  But in a
> countryside distirct where the closest college is about 100km or even 50km
> away, the problem is that there is no college for local kids.
>
> And you know how expensive that is for a family to send a child to another
> city to attend colleges?  How many country kids have that kind of luxury?
> How many simply stay away from college?
>
> Having a college in the area where there is none means working on both
> quantity (increasing from 0 to 1) and quality (increasing from 0 to
> something).
>
> Of course, where there is a college already, the priority should be
> helping the existing college to gain higher quality (instead of building
> more colleges).  But I am talking about putting colleges where there is
> none, to help the local kids attending colleges instead of stopping
> schooling altogether.  When a person involuntarily stops schooling, the
> country really suffers.
>
> Have a great day!
>
> Hoanh
>
> ___________
>
>
> 2008/4/14 Vu Truong Giang <giangvt at gmail.com>:
>
> > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> >
> >
> > Dear CACC,
> >
> > I saw the statistic from Ministry of Education here:
> > http://edu.net.vn/thongke/kcq.htm . There are many numbers.
> >
> > But I can not see any statistic on quality?
> >
> > Giang.
> >
> > 2008/4/14 Vu Truong Giang <giangvt at gmail.com>:
> >
> > > Dear anh Hoanh,
> > >
> > > I like your question: "If there is only ONE thing I can do for the
> > > rural areas, what would I do?". I often use this way to find core thing in
> > > complex situations. This kind of question seem to make us more peace in
> > > mind.
> > >
> > > I love education. If I must answer your question above, my answer is
> > > the same with you.
> > >
> > > Simple question need for our mind, and it's good for starting point.
> > > But other questions should be raised up in the practical view?
> > >
> > > I worry that the core problem here is not number of colleges. The
> > > problem is quality of them. So, should Goverment try to create more college,
> > > or they should improve their quality?
> > >
> > > Giang.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Tran Dinh Hoanh, Esq., LLB, JD
> > > Washington DC
> >
> >
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