Engagement of Vietnamese Religious Communities in National Education: Resources, Challenges, and Opportunities

Abstract

With 43 legal religious organizations and an estimated 26.5 million religious adherents, Vietnam has had a very diversified religious landscape. After the Renovation (Đổi Mới), the Vietnam government’s policy of socializing education has encouraged religious groups to participate in the national education. Our chapter outlines this policy before focusing on the contributions of certain religious organizations to developing national education. Then, our research identifies significant challenges faced by religious organizations in the field of national education, as well as the critical advantages they could have had to compete in this area. Toward the end of the chapter, we recommend that religious topics be included in the curriculum for all public schools.