The rates of dropouts in Ho Chi Minh City are 13,66 percent of children under five years olds; 2,35 percent of primary students and 9,92 percent of high junior students. The figure was released at a meeting recently held by the municipal Department of Education and Training.

The number was taken from a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education and Training in coordination with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). It was carried out in eight cities and provinces nationwide including the northern provinces of Lao Cai, Dien Bien, the central province of Ninh Thuan, the highlands provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong delta provinces of Dong Thap and An Giang.

Three groups of ages were mentioned in the survey comprising those at five, those from six to 10 years old and from 11 year old to 14 year old; all of them are dropouts.

Le Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Education and Training, said that the survey was conducted on children from low-income families, children in distant and disadvantaged districts, children in minority groups, disabled children, child laborers, children of immigrant parents, children living with HIV, orphans, and street children.

In future, HCMC authority will work out a project to make education compulsory for children.