THE MATTER OF EDUCATION IN VIETNAM DURING THE FIRST YEARS OF 20TH CENTURY: (EXAMINE THE PRESENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE MATTERS IN NAM PHONG MAGAZINE FROM 1917 TO 1934)

Abstract

Nam Phong magazine was born at a time when education in Vietnam was going through a significant transformation. Looking back to the first three decades of the twentieth century, Vietnamese education had breakthrough changes compared to the traditional system in that age. This was reflected in new methods considered and applied regarding examinations, ways of study and teaching, along with many other cultural and technological aspects. These topics were passionately discussed on the pages of Nam Phong. Even after a century, the subjects from that time have kept their actuality. Nam Phong magazine clearly expressed their views on literacy versus the educational policy of the French colonial administration. Pham Quynh - Editor of Nam Phong - provided a mid-ground solution by balancing between old and new concepts of education. He took both the Western studies and the Confucianism philosophy, harmonized and adapted it to the Nam Viet culture “so the future generations may not able to distinguish where West meets East”. This was against the aim of the French colonialists, who were to continue their obscurantism practice, serving their rule over the region.