Vương Kiêm Toàn

Vương Kiêm Toàn (12 March 1902 – 30 March 1990) was a Vietnamese educator who, for many decades, contributed to the fight against illiteracy, as well as to teaching and the publication of school books. He served as Director-General of the (Bureau of Popular Education) and received a (honorary certificate) from UNESCO in 1983 for contributions to literacy.

Early life Vương Kiêm Toàn was born on 12 March 1902 in Hương Ngải commune, Thạch Thất district, Hà Tây province (now part of Hanoi), Vietnam.

Following the death of the first director, Nguyễn Công Mỹ (1909–1949), who died due to French bombardment, Vương Kiêm Toàn was assigned as the second Director-General of the (Bureau of Popular Education) in 1949.

He worked on nationwide literacy campaigns associated with the Bình dân học vụ movement, focusing on adult education and eradication of illiteracy.

During his career, Vương Kiêm Toàn was financially awarded by President Hồ Chí Minh (date unknown) with 2,000 Vietnamese đồng. Part of this money was used to publish Vietnamese-language books for a minority community in Vietnam (the Thai people), and the remainder was dedicated to literacy campaigns in 21 northern mountainous provinces during the 1956–1958 period, helping to combat illiteracy in remote areas.

Death Vương Kiêm Toàn died on March 30, 1990, in Hanoi.