At the request of The Nippon Foundation of Japan, PEN-International, representing the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, joined in discussions at Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in Hanoi to discuss the particulars of a memorandum of understanding between The Foundation and MOET (28 May to 4 June 2008). The MOU is being negotiated as the first step of a plan to execute a three-component effort in Hanoi:
Component 1. A Secondary Education Program for the Deaf (Grade 6 to 12);
Component 2. Teacher Training at Post-Secondary Level Specialized in Deaf Education; and,
Component 3. A Sign-Language Interpreters Training Program in the Northern Region of Vietnam.
Dr. Woodward and Ms. Hoa of the Dong Nai Provincial Teacher's College High School Program for the Deaf will serve as the directors of Component 1. PEN-International will work with MOET, Dr. Woodward, Ms. Hoa, National College for Education in Hanoi and The Nippon Foundation to implement Components 2 and 3, and will provide technical support for Component 1.
The MOU is scheduled for signing in Hanoi prior to the end of June by high level representatives of The Nippon Foundation and MOET. It is anticipated that the first stage of this three-component program will take five years.
