Codes and Frequencies
Explore how IPUMS created this variable
class Educvn : public Editor {
public:
Educvn(VarPointer varInfo) : Editor(varInfo) {}
void edit() {
long a = getRecoded();
switch (dataSet) {
case dataset_id::vn1989a: {
if (VN1989A_0411() == 99 && VN1989A_0431() >= 5 && VN1989A_0431() < 999)
a = 0;
} break;
case dataset_id::vn1999a: {
if (VN1999A_0418() == 1) {
if (a == 101)
a = 0;
if (a == 102)
a = 101;
if (a == 103)
a = 102;
if (a == 104)
a = 103;
if (a == 105)
a = 104;
if (a == 106)
a = 105;
if (a == 107)
a = 106;
if (a == 108)
a = 107;
if (a == 109)
a = 108;
if (a == 110)
a = 109;
if (a == 111)
a = 110;
if (a == 112)
a = 111;
}
if (VN1999A_0420() == 99 && VN1999A_0406() < 5)
a = 999;
if (VN1999A_0420() == 99 && VN1999A_0418() == 3)
a = 0;
} break;
case dataset_id::vn2009a: {
if (VN2009A_0409() == 9999 && VN2009A_0406() == 3)
a = 0;
if (VN2009A_0409() == 9999 && VN2009A_0407() == 0)
a = 100;
} break;
}
setData(a);
}
};
Description
This variable indicates the highest educational level in Vietnam that the person was attending or had completed at the time of the census.
Comparability — General
The education system of Vietnam is comprised of four levels: pre-school, primary, secondary, and higher education. It generally follows a 5-4-3 or a 5-4-5 pre-university system, with more variations at the upper secondary level. Compulsory basic education includes primary education and lower secondary, while general education encompasses the upper secondary education.
- Pre-school caters to children from age three months to six years and includes creches (3 months to 3 years) and kindergartens (3 to 6 years).
- Primary education consists of five years (grades 1 through 5) with children enrolled at age 6 years.
- Students who successfully complete their primary education enter four-year lower secondary education (grades 6 through 9) or can opt into short-term training.
- Students who successfully complete lower secondary education have several options available. These include:
- Upper secondary school (grades 10 through 12)
- Professional upper secondary education ranging between 3 and 4 years for learners with lower secondary education and 1 to 2 years for those with upper secondary education.
- Vocational upper secondary training undertaken between 1 and 3 years.
- Both professional and upper secondary education can lead to higher education. Higher education includes colleges (2 to 3 years) and universities (4 to 6 years). Master education is conducted from 1 to 2 years for persons with university degrees. Doctoral education is conducted over 4 years for persons with university degree, 2 to 3 years for persons with master degrees or could be extended for longer than above.
The fundamental difference between college education and university education is the depth of skills gained: university provides more advanced skills compared to college education. Qualifications awarded are also different. Completion of college education is awarded a college diploma while university education is awarded a university degree. University degrees include bachelor and professional degrees, which are different from master and doctorate degrees.
The variable is generally comparable across the samples; however, the 1989 data lacks information about higher education.
In 2009 and 2019, the census question included a new category for pre-school, which may or may not be comparable to "none" in previous samples. Preschool include persons whose highest education level is pre-school or who were attending pre-school.
In 2009 and 2019, some responses in the data do not strictly follow the educational system described before. For example, some respondents with lower secondary education report a (primary) grade 5 and some with upper secondary education report a (lower secondary) grade 9. These are coded following the grade reported. In addition, some education levels include persons who declare spending more than the standard duration of completion in these institutions. Top-codes are used for these cases.
The 2009 and 2019 samples have differences in response categories available for vocational and technical education. The 2019 pre-intermediate education is considered as short-term training, while intermediate education is assumed to be equivalent to vocational upper secondary training and professional upper secondary education.
In 2019, for persons with vocational training or post-secondary education, we combine information on the highest level completed with the level currently attending, by taking the highest across the two. The 2019 data recorded the total number of years completed for all forms of vocational training or post-secondary education, separately from years attained in general education. This information reflects the total accumulated years, including not only those corresponding to the highest level attained but also preceding levels of post-secondary education. For example, respondents whose highest level of education is a master's degree and have 6 years of post-secondary education are classified as "master's, year 2", assuming 4 years of prior university education. Similarly, respondents whose highest level of education is a Ph.D. and have 9 years of post-secondary education are classified as "Ph.D., year 5", assuming they completed 4 years of university.
For related information on the highest degree or certification obtained, see the educational source variables for Vietnam.
A harmonized international classification of educational attainment is available in EDATTAIN, which imposes a number of compromises to regularize the data across countries. In contrast, EDUCVN retains the full detail on educational attainment from the Vietnam samples.
The number of years of schooling completed is available separately in YRSCHOOL.
Universe
- Persons age 5+
Availability
- Vietnam: 1989, 1999, 2009, 2019
