Microsoft teaches ICT and computer science to 200,000 students

Microsoft has extended ICT and computer science knowledge to more than 200,000 students in Vietnam's remote areas

While observing a learning software called “Typing Test”, Tran Thi Ra Vi – a Khmer student from Long Phu Secondary School in Soc Trang – had a creative idea to use the Scratch programming language to design her own learning programme called "Typing fast is easy" in order to help her schoolmates type faster. Her initiative rose above hundreds of other creative products to win the Best Product award in the National Competition on Innovation for Change 2018-2019 under the framework of the Youth Spark Digital Inclusion (YDI) project.

IT education is considered one of the keys to help change people's lives and to ensure that no-one is left behind in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Since 2016, in order to support disadvantaged students to access modern and up-to-date ICT knowledge, the Information Technology Department of the Ministry of Education and Training, Microsoft Vietnam, and Vietnet Information and Technology Centre (Vietnet-ICT) have been implementing the YDI project in the difficult areas of 12 provinces. The project has developed an ICT and computer science programme to pilot extra-curricular classes, including topics on basic IT application, movie making, 2D-3D graphics, 2D-3D programming, and internet safety at secondary schools, ethnic boarding schools, and continuing education centres.

Waris Candra, director of Microsoft Foundation APAC, at the summary Workshop of YDI Project 2019

After more than three years of implementation, the project has achieved remarkable coverage and positive effects on students. In the 12 provinces where the project was implemented (including Hoa Binh, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Haiphong, Danang, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, An Giang, and Ho Chi Minh City) more than 2,000 teachers have attended training courses and 200,000 students have been introduced to the innovative ICT and computer science programme.

In the 2018-2019 school year, in order to expand coverage to students from all regions, all the resources of the ICT and computer science programme have been digitised as interactive online courses on the project portal. Additionally, the online learning resources can also help teachers with additional knowledge and practical teaching methods, as well as teaching materials. Training courses for teachers are also available on the Ministry of Education and Training's online learning portal.

To Hong Nam, deputy director of the IT-Department of the Ministry of Education and Training, emphasised, “For the past few years, the YDI project has been implemented in 12 disadvantaged areas with updated learning materials, a creative approach to teaching, and extracurricular training classes that inspired students to study computer science. These extra-curricular classes were not only applied to the 12 areas, but were made available at many other localities and schools. With this momentum, I believe we can maintain the interest and passion for computer science. It will open up more opportunities for students to learn, integrate, and develop themselves. Narrowing the digital gap between regions means a lot in the context of digital transformation in our country today,” said Nam.

Ngo Minh Trang, director of Vietnet-ICT, said, “By digitising training resources into an online learning portal, the project team expects that not only disadvantaged students from the 12 project areas but students and teachers from all regions have access to the training programmes. We hope to bridge the digital gap between urban and rural areas and encourage young people to get ready for the digital economy by learning new skills in computer science.”

Many Departments of Education and Training have started rolling out training courses by themselves after learning of the positive effects and the practical knowledge shared by the project. Specifically, Departments of Education and Training in 10 cities and provinces have provided training for 937 teachers on knowledge and teaching methods.

In addition, during the 2018-2019 school year, YDI continues to implement activities to raise awareness such as Hour of Code which attracted the active participation of 722 teachers and 136,000 students from 446 schools in 26 provinces and cities across Vietnam or the campaign #MakeWhatNext (Women with technology) and the National Competition on Innovation for Change.

Le Hong Nhi, philanthropies & corporate affairs lead, Southeast Asia, Microsoft, shared, “In 10 to 15 years, the working environment and work itself will change dramatically due to technological development. Creativity, problem-solving skills, and logical thinking will be essential skills for future careers. Learning to code will build these skills for you. Microsoft hopes to contribute to the long-term development of IT education in Vietnam through this project, aiming to create an innovative and dynamic generation of young Vietnamese people.”

The Summary Workshop of YDI Project 2019 took place on September 27, 2019 in Hanoi with the participation of educational managers, experts, and partner organisations working in digital education, as well as schools, teachers, and excellent students aimed of summarising project implementation results, awarding the winners of the National Competition on Innovation for Change 2018-2019 and acknowledged the positive contributions of the Departments of Education and Training.