The French did impart a European-style educational system attached closely to the Christian ethics, while still respecting the traditional education. The authors, while affirming the importance of building a secular state, suggest that the re-engagement of religions will be significant in mobilising all social resources for the development of education, taking advantage of the resources and fine ethical values of religions. | Education and Role of Religions in History of Education in Vietnam Nguyen Quang Hung1, Nguyen Van Chinh1 1 University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Email: nguyenquanghung50@ Received: 4 January 2017. Accepted: 27 March 2017 Abstract: The ongoing debate over the current situation of education in Vietnam tends to argue that the present educational system with its vague goals has lost the orientation and is lack of “a guiding philosophy of education”. The authors of this paper join the discussion by indicating a historical perspective of the role of religions in the educational development in Vietnam. They deem that major religions such as Buddhism and Confucianism used to play a role as the core and foundation for the national education system. The French did impart a European-style educational system attached closely to the Christian ethics, while still respecting the traditional education. The authors, while affirming the importance of building a secular state, suggest that the re-engagement of religions will be significant in mobilising all social resources for the development of education, taking advantage of the resources and fine ethical values of religions. Keywords: Education, religion, value, ethics, cultural resources. Subject classification: Religious studies 1. Introduction Looking for causes of the current crisis of education in Vietnam, Professor Hoang Tuy, who has devoted his whole life to the cause of education, gave frank comments: “Education is getting gradually disoriented; it is unclear who and what education is for”. He pointed out that the moral deterioration in Vietnamese schools was “a disaster of education”, as the schools did not help students in achieving honesty and creativity” [25]. Agreeing with his opinion, many educational experts have argued that “there is not a correct educational philosophy that highly appreciates the sense of humanity and the [proper] citizens’ lifestyle” in .
