Question

Describe the major problems in the field of education for the French in Vietnam.

Answer 1

French introduced modern education in Vietnam in order to spread western culture and civilization and to make Vietnamese, their loyal supporters. Some argued that French should be used as medium of education and as a result, it was suggested that Vietnamese can be used as medium in lower classes while French can be used in higher classes It was also decided that those who learnt French and adopted French culture could be given French citizenship. Thus, the rich were allowed to study in French schools while the poor in Vietnamese schools. This allowed the government to follow the policy of deliberately failing the students. Moreover, the textbooks glorified French rule and culture and degraded Vietnamese culture. To solve the problems in Education system, French made the children to believe that only French rule could provide peace to Vietnam. Schools allowed the students to follow French lifestyle and become westernised.