Question

Why was the Tonkin free School started in Vietnam?
A) To provide modern education.
B) To provide western-style education.
C) To provide education to Vietnamese only.
D) To provide education to French children.

Answer 1

Hint: It was established in 1907 and initially aimed at reforming the Vietnamese society. After it was taken over by the French, its education started including classes in science, hygiene and French.

Complete answer:
The Tonkin Free Schools were founded in 1907, and was run by many nationalists of the time. The institute aided to reform the Vietnamese society, but it was taken over by the French in 1908. Since then, their main aim was to provide western-style education. It had been not enough to accumulate knowledge in science and western ideas but was also important to find out to appear 'modern'.
The school's objective was to instill modern, western styles and habits within the Vietnamese.

Main features are:
- Classes in science, hygiene and French were introduced in the education provided by the school.
- The varsity wanted to introduce modernism and western customs.
- The college encouraged the adoption of Western styles like having short hair rather than traditionally kept long hair.
- In class textbooks, ‘Vietnamese’ were represented as primitive and backward and capable only of toil.
- The institute was short-lived but it was very significant in the educational history of Vietnam under the French protectorate.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (B) i.e, To provide western-style education.

Note:
- Tonkin free schools established to supply western education in Vietnam.
- It was absolutely because the French wanted to impart Western style education to the Vietnamese.
- People weren't only encouraged to be told western ideas and education but also to appear modern by adopting western styles like having a brief haircut.