Can Tho, Aug. 4 -- More than 8,000 ethnic minority children in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho will receive free Vietnamese language instruction before entering first grade in the 2026-2027 school year, as part of efforts to remove language barriers and improve access to education.

Backed by more than 4.2 billion VND (161,000 USD) from the State budget, the programme aims to strengthen children's Vietnamese communication skills before they begin primary school, helping them integrate more smoothly into the classroom and improve learning outcomes from the outset. In the 2025-2026 school year, Can Tho recorded 51,910 first-grade pupils, including 10,857 ethnic minority students, who accounted for nearly 21% of total enrolment. Director of...