How Investing In Vietnam’s Rural Youth Could Benefit the Country's Economy - Nikol Nikolova

Photo by Tran Mau Tri Tam on Unsplash

In 2019, approximately 65.6% of Vietnam’s population was found in rural areas and yet this sector of society continues to be incredibly marginalized. Investing in education and facilities for rural areas will not just benefit these communities and reduce the existing inequalities, but there is also a strong case that such investments will benefit the country as a whole in the long run.

Education is said to be one of the most vital tools that allow young people to reach their full potential and give back to the country. In fact, many suggest that development and education are inextricably linked. Since 2008, the Vietnamese government has been investing and spending 20% of its budget on the educational sector. This means that Vietnam, just like many other countries, recognizes the importance of this, hence why in the last few decades, there has also been a particularly strong emphasis on developing education in rural areas.

These regions have often been neglected and left behind in the past. Better Life Vietnam’s online English learning program aims to tackle precisely this issue by providing rural youth and children with the opportunity to access quality education as well as crucial resources, such as books and textbooks. Learning English opens the door for them to access a copious amount of opportunities. They are able to develop the required skills and expertise for their chosen field, thus, becoming highly qualified professionals. In a previous interview with several of the Better Life Vietnam students, they expressed that their motivation for learning English was fueled by their personal goals to become doctors and teachers in the future. 

Ultimately, their contributions to society will not go unnoticed. Highly qualified and trained young people from rural areas will be able to contribute to the economy and the overall development of the country. Skilled doctors, lawyers and teachers will form an integral part of the country’s social fabric. Not only that, with access to education, young people will attain better qualifications, thus, acquiring jobs with a higher income. They will have improved access to good healthcare and will more likely have a better work-life balance that will contribute to their overall happiness. A healthier population that is able to help the economy means the country will keep being on an upward trajectory, developing for the better. 

According to an article by UNESCO, an increase in the educational achievement of a country’s population by one year also increases annual per capita GDP growth from 2% to 2.5%. It is also not unheard of young people, who have moved abroad, often returning in order to help their home country. This can be anything from investing in important projects to helping rebuild the infrastructure in rural areas. In essence, investing in education for rural children and youth is a crucial step in the journey of developing countries. Education means development. 

Better Life Vietnam runs an online English learning program for underprivileged children and youth in rural Vietnam. If you are interested to learn more and get involved, visit https://betterlifevietnam.org/ or contact us at betterlifevietnam@gmail.com.