Education of Hanoi under the French Colonization as Seen from Archival Sources

Abstract

During its colonization of Indochina, the French colonialist government carried out two educational reforms in Vietnam during the office terms of the two famous Governor Generals: Paul Beau and Albert Sarraut.

Under the French strategy of developing Hanoi into a "capital of Tonkin" and also a "capital of the Indochinese Federation", Hanoi experienced many changes, including educational policies which were clearly reflected in the organization and activity of both state and private school system in the period 1898-1945. This article seeks to highlight the education of Hanoi during the two educational reforms implemented by the French in Vietnam in 1906-1916 and 1917-1929. Under the influence of the second educational reform, Hanoi Professional School integrated into the system of industrial education. Additionally, this school was directly managed by the Superior Resident of Tonkin while it was technically controlled by the director of the Service de l'Enseignement du Tonkin. Consequently, there remained only cultural schools in Hanoi during this period. This circumstance lasted until the successful August Revolution in 1945.