Nationally, 1% of primary school-age children are out of school, rising to 5% at the lower secondary level and 22% at the upper secondary level. In the Mekong Delta, the upper secondary out-of-school rate is significantly higher at 36%, highlighting a critical need for intervention in this region.
Source: Page 20 & 23 of the report.
Dropout Disparities:
Children in rural areas and those from the poorest households face higher dropout rates across all education levels. For instance, 47% of upper secondary-aged children from the poorest quintile do not attend school, compared to just 2% in the wealthiest quintile. This disparity underscores severe inequities in access.
Source: Page 25 of the report.
Impact on Poor and Marginalised Children:
Children of Khmer ethnicity, a prominent group in the Mekong Delta, are particularly vulnerable, with 56% out-of-school at the upper secondary level, nearly three times the national average.
Source: Page 26 of the report.
Foundational Skills Deficits:
Among children aged 7–14, 16% in the Mekong Delta lack foundational reading skills, and 29% lack basic numeracy skills, reflecting systemic challenges in education quality.
Source: Page 18 of the report.
Digital Divide:
Access to information and communication technology (ICT) is highly inequitable. Only 28% of rural youth possess ICT skills, compared to 58% of urban youth, leaving many youths disadvantaged in digital literacy.
