Ethnic people need training, education and healthcare

HA NOI – Nearly 90 per cent of ethnic people of working age are untrained.

This is one of the main obstacles limiting the development of mountainous areas, said Ksor Phuoc, president of National Assembly's Ethnic Council today.

Phuoc was speaking at a forum to develop human resources among tribal people and those living in mountainous areas over the next eight years.

The meeting involved policy makers and experts from international organisations.

Phuoc said improving the quality of human resources in ethnic areas was a key step in meeting requirements for national development.

Statistics from the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs revealed high illiteracy rates existed among ethnic people, especially in the northern uplands (12.7 per cent) and Central Highland areas (11.3 per cent). Most students leave school when they are 15 – or even before.