Representative of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam awards the "Global Learning City" Certificate to the Deputy Minister of Education and Training (Photo: VOV)

On February 14, Ho Chi Minh City and Son La City were named new members of UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities, bringing the total number of Vietnamese localities in the Network to 5.

Ha Trung Chien, Secretary of Son La city’s Party Committee, said: “Joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is an honor and also an opportunity for Son La city and its people to access educational programs and a program to build a learning society that meets the UNESCO criteria. In the future, the city will design an action program to perfect its status as a global learning city.”

Since being recognized as a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, Son La city has invested 58 million USD in its education sector. At this week’s ceremony, Son La launched the To Hieu Scholarship Fund and awarded scholarships to students with outstanding academic achievements.

Son La city also inaugurated construction of Chieng Le Kindergarten with a total investment of 280,000 USD, and opened booths displaying local cultures and STEM/STEAM educational products.