President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Nguyen Thien Nhan on September 12 called on the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Institute, which is situated within Pothi Somron Temple, as part of his visit to the southern city of Can Tho.
The Khmer Theravada Buddhist Institute in Can Tho opened in 2007 and is the fourth Buddhist institute run by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.
To date, 87 monks have graduated from the institute while another 40 are still in training, according to Most Venerable Đào Như, deputy director of the Buddhist establishment.
In addition to Buddhist studies, student monks are also offered courses in Vietnamese history, religious policy, national defence and other issues, added Most Venerable Đào Như.
The VFF president said he acknowledged the institute’s significant contributions to training talented monks for the sangha and senior Buddhist leaders’ part in building national unity.
He suggested including lectures on other religions in Vietnam as a way of further promoting national unity while offering knowledge on information technology to students to keep them abreast of the country’s development.
The Front leader also welcomed the institute’s collaboration with Can Tho University and the city Committee for Religious Affairs to help students acquire more in-depth knowledge of religious affairs.
Source: nhandan.com.vn
