Influence of ethnic culture in choosing the learning type of ethnic minorities: Evidence from Northwest of Vietnam

Abstract

One of the concerns in improving the quality of minority education in multicultural nations is how to choose the appropriate types of learning for different ethnic groups, especially when such decision can be constrained their cultural diversity. This paper aims to analyze the effect of cultural differences on selecting types of learning for ethnic minorities; thus, recommending some ethic-specific policies to better utilize the manpower resources in the Northwest region of Vietnam. Questionnaires were employed to survey 250 people from 6 ethnic minority groups, whose population is over one million locating in three provinces in the Northwest border region of Vietnam. The study also conducted 20 in-depth interviews with management teams of different educational institutions and corporations. The results show that ethnic-cultural factors including gender, customs, ethnic relations, and marriage age have determined the choice of learning types in higher education levels. From those points, this paper suggests development interventions so that ethnic-cultural factors do not reduce the ability to pursue higher

Hunter-Gatherer Mortuary Variability in Vietnam

“…Burning aside, it was commonly reported that skeletal elements were covered with red ocher, for example, ocher was noted on burials at Hang Con Moong (Hoàng and Nguyễn 1976), Mái đá Làng Vanh (Colani 1929), Mái đá Triềng Xén (Colani 1927b) and Mái đá Điều (Nguyễn 1994b). The use of ocher was also mentioned by Nguyễn (1994a) in his review paper at Hang Con Moong, Hang Muối, and Hang Dắng. Hang Muối 1, the relatively shallow supine-extended burial of unclear date (but likely Neolithic), was described as resting on a bed of ocher (Phạm et al 1967).…”

“…The cultural layer, which is 1 m deep, revealed one burial at a depth of 0.55 m (Hoàng 1985(Hoàng , 1989. This individual was represented by cranial and postcranial fragments and the cranial fragments were reportedly burned (Nguyễn 1994a). The remains were identified as an old male (Hoàng 1985(Hoàng , 1989Nguyễn 1991Nguyễn , 1994a who was lying on his side, with his lower limbs flexed (Nguyễn 1994a) and head oriented to the northwest.…”

“…One burial, discovered in 1984 at a depth of 0.8 m, is estimated to be a middle-aged adult male and is represented by an almost complete skull with 32 teeth, a right humerus, some right hand bones, and some other fragments of the postcranial skeleton (Nguyễn 1993). The upper body is reported to be supine while the position of the lower limbs is not reported or known (Nguyễn 1994a). At the neck region were six ground sea shells, thought to be a necklace (Nguyễn 1986b(Nguyễn , 1987.…”

“…Evidence of burning, partial or complete cremation(? ), on Hòabìnhian human remains have been observed and noted at Mái đá Triềng Xến and Mái đá Làng Vanh (Nguyễn 1986a), Hang Dắng (Nguyễn 1972(Nguyễn , 1986a, Hang Thẩm Hoi (Nguyễn 1972), Động Can (Nguyễn 1994a) and possibly Hang Muối due to the presence of carbonized postcranial remains (Bulbeck et al 2007). Several suggestions have been put forward to explain the occurrence of burning, including the close proximity of the burials to hearths in the caves, or the practice of cremation.…”