Japanese grant from Asian Development Bank to help ethnic minorities in VN

A $1.5 million grant from the ADB is going towards education among the ethnic minority youth of Viet Nam, according to a December 7th Asian Development Bank press release. The grant is funded by the Japanese government. The miserable enrollment rate of 19.3 percent among ethnic minorities is significantly lower than the Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese) rates. In addition, high repetition and drop-out rates are severely hurting ethnic minorities. According to an ADB official, “As solid education is a significant factor in lifting households out of poverty, it is important to address the specific educational disadvantages faced by ethnic minority youth, who will be key bread-winners of the family and community.” The grant will target 18 small ethnic groups whose total population is less than 15,000. The grant will construct dormitories and jumpstart a scholarship fund designed to help ethnic minorities obtain secondary and post-secondary education.

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