Focus on developing preschool education in industrial zones

Currently, the country has 184 district-level units in urban areas from type I to type III. Meanwhile, the country has 431 industrial parks established in 59 provinces and cities, creating jobs for about 4.16 million direct workers. Industrial parks operating in 221 district-level units and planned for development from 2024 to 2030 are mostly concentrated in the above-mentioned urban areas, which are places with a large concentration of workers and high demand for preschool education services, and the need for workers to send their children to school is increasing.

Change but not meet requirements

According to Hoang Thi Dinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Preschool Education (Ministry of Education and Training), in 221 district-level units with industrial parks, there are 13,137 preschools (3,612 public schools, 1,770 non-public schools and 7,755 private independent preschools). Preschools have mobilized more than 1.8 million children to attend classes; of which, the proportion of children of workers working in industrial parks accounts for about 21.5%. In particular, with the characteristics of flexible organization of activities in terms of time for receiving and returning children, tuition fees suitable to the needs of low-income workers, and locations near workers' accommodation, private independent preschools are the choice of the majority of migrant workers working in industrial parks.

In densely populated areas and places with developed industrial zones, there have been many projects and policies to promote investment and mobilize resources to develop preschool education, basically meeting the needs of people for childcare, contributing to reducing difficulties for workers and laborers working in industrial zones, ensuring the quality of preschool education.

Head of the Preschool Education Department, Department of Education and Training of Bac Ninh province, Luong Thi Bien, shared that the whole province has 12 industrial parks and 25 industrial clusters in operation with a total of more than 294 thousand workers. Among the 177 kindergartens and 220 private independent preschool education facilities in the province, 97,243 preschool children are educated, of which 25,132 are children of workers. Many specific policies to support preschool education facilities in industrial parks have been issued by the province, such as tuition support, loan interest rates and equipment purchases, etc.

Although there have been many positive changes, in order to meet the requirements of urban and industrial park development, the planning and development of preschool facilities have not been suitable for the needs of workers and laborers. According to Ms. Dinh, the rate of mobilizing children from nursery schools to private independent preschool facilities accounts for 56.9% in industrial parks, but the quality of nurturing, caring for and educating children is still limited, especially the lack of playgrounds, utensils, toys, and minimal equipment; and the teaching staff is still limited.

Notably, the mechanisms and policies to promote the development of preschool education in urban areas and industrial zones are still inadequate and have not been implemented evenly among localities and regions. Even in Bac Ninh, although there have been many positive changes, the reality shows that when industrial zones are built, there is no land fund for welfare facilities for workers, including preschools. Meanwhile, in areas with industrial zones, the mechanical population is increasing rapidly, the conditions of staff, facilities, and teaching equipment of preschools have not met the prescribed standards in a timely manner; policies to support the construction of facilities have not kept up with the rapid development in scale.

Building a mechanism to increase social resources

In order for preschool education in urban areas and industrial parks to meet actual needs, contribute to reducing difficulties for workers and laborers, and improve the quality of education, many specific solutions are required from all levels and sectors. From the practical operation of preschool education facilities in industrial parks, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, Hoa Anh Dao Private Kindergarten, Quang Tien Commune, Soc Son District (Hanoi) said that the whole school has 40.1% of children who are children of workers. The demand of parents for sending children under 36 months old is quite large, but they are all low-income workers. If the tuition fee is too high, parents will not be able to pay. Meanwhile, the demand for teachers to care for children under 36 months old is very high, and to recruit them, they must pay appropriate salaries. That shows the imbalance between the demand and funding for raising children under 36 months old in industrial parks.

Therefore, Ms. Lan believes that the Government needs to have more detailed support, training and guidance policies for preschools that educate children under 36 months old in industrial zones, especially support in terms of facilities, guidance and in-depth training in organization and management in developing classes for children under 36 months old. Notably, there needs to be a support policy for teachers to improve their professional qualifications to serve the education of children, especially children under 36 months old.

Head of the Preschool Education Department, Department of Education and Training of Bac Ninh province, Luong Thi Bien, said that it is necessary to orient enterprises in industrial parks to pay attention to and invest in developing types of preschool education facilities for children of local people in general, including children of workers of enterprises. On the State side, it is necessary to speed up the promulgation of specific policies for the construction of preschools and classes in industrial parks, to solve problems of land funds for preschool education and issues related to the rights and obligations of enterprises when investing in construction and providing financial support for children of workers working in industrial parks.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the State needs to have more preferential policies for developing preschool education in areas with industrial parks; encourage organizations and individuals to invest in developing preschool education; diversify types and models of preschool education facilities in urban areas and industrial parks. It is necessary to strengthen the implementation of social responsibility of enterprises building preschools operating in a non-profit form. On the local side, it is necessary to deploy and replicate quality and effective preschool education models in urban areas and industrial parks according to the provisions of law.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Kim Chi said that the Ministry will continue to conduct more accurate and in-depth surveys and assessments, in the context of industrial parks, export processing zones, and urban areas changing every day, to ensure that low-income people have access to policies and services that meet the practical needs of workers.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chu-trong-phat-trien-giao-duc-mam-non-o-dia-ban-khu-cong-nghiep-post837755.html