The Dilemma of Colonial education

With the assumption of the superiority of their own culture, colonists set out to "civilise" the people.

While at one hand they were desirous of a local educated labour, they feared that education them may cause them to question the French rule as well as full French education may cause to French citizens living in Vietnam to lose their jobs to them

Teaching them French was an essential part as they needed to make them feel tied to France and view them as superior culture.

Chinese, spoken by the elite was to be replaced. After mulling over their options, Vietnamese was taught at lower levels and French after that.

Only elite Vietnamese had access to education, of which very few were passed to restrict their access to higher paying jobs

 1907- Tonkin Free School started to provide western style Education

Students given lessons in science ,hygiene, French

Adoption of western styles like having a short haircut encouraged. Traditionally Vietnamese men kept their hair long...