ChildFund's Project Improve Living and Learning Conditions of Ethnic Minority Students
	Digital Education: Innovative Learning Solution for Ethnic Minority Children

Growing up in the rural countryside of the Mekong Delta, Huy only began attending kindergarten at the age of five. On his first day in Class La 2 at My Trung Kindergarten (Tien Giang), he was shy, cried frequently, and struggled to recognize letters and numbers.

Positive changes began to emerge when Huy’s teacher, Do Thi Cam Huong, participated in a training course organized by Save the Children. Inspired by what she learned, Ms. Huong started integrating creative activities into her lessons, using methods designed to help children become familiar with reading, writing, and math. These engaging approaches made the classroom more welcoming, easier to understand, and better suited to young learners like Huy.

Beyond transforming her classroom teaching, Huong also made efforts to connect with parents, encouraging them to accompany their children on the learning journey. Huy’s mother, Ly, was invited to join the Parents' Club organized by the school. There, she and other parents were introduced to simple, practical methods to support their children’s early literacy and numeracy development at home in a warm and accessible way.

Nguyen Chien Huy and his mother, Nguyen Thi Ly. (Photo: Save the Children)

Initially, Ly was excited to borrow books from the library to read to her child. But when she saw that her child was not focused, she gradually became discouraged and even considered withdrawing from the club. Thanks to Huong's persistent encouragement, she decided to stay and try again, this time with more knowledge about how to read interactive stories that engage children.

"I used to read stories to my child, but he was very indifferent. After joining the club, I learned how to read more correctly, so he listened and even asked about the content," Ly shared. Among the books chosen by his mother, Huy especially liked Competition of Means of Transport, and could even retell the story coherently.

Huy is now no longer shy, nor does he cry every morning when he comes to class. He has become more confident, especially in storytelling and letter recognition lessons. Every time he heard a story, Huy listened attentively, his eyes lit up with curiosity, he was fascinated by each drawing and did not hesitate to raise his hand to ask questions about the characters in the story.

Continue to spread new learning methods

The Ready to Learn (RTL) and Literacy Boost (LB) toolkits have been actively implemented by Save the Children in numerous localities and schools across the country. According to the organization, these two approaches help improve learning outcomes, boost enthusiasm, and enhance school readiness for children aged 3 to 11. They contribute directly to the Project to Enhance Vietnamese Language for Ethnic Minority Preschool and Primary School Children for the period 2016–2020, with a vision toward 2025 (Decision 1008/QĐ-TTg) issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

RTL and LB have also been used to develop four optional modules in the Ministry of Education and Training’s Continuing Teacher Training program, issued in 2019. The Department of Teachers and Administrators has organized training for key trainers in 25 provinces and cities on supporting preschool children in becoming familiar with reading and mathematics, and in 30 provinces and cities on enhancing literacy. Many provinces have conducted training for teachers and core staff across their regions using these approaches, including Lao Cai, Da Nang, Quang Binh, Dong Nai, and Tien Giang. Several provinces have also expanded the model to schools beyond the original project scope, such as Hai Phong, Dien Bien, Yen Bai, and Quang Nam. Notably, some localities, despite not being within the project’s initial scope, have proactively implemented teacher training programs, including Thua Thien Hue and Gia Lai.

On January 10-13, 2024, Save the Children and the Department of Education and Training of Dong Thap held a training course for preschool and primary school teachers on the application of methods to learn the alphabet, math, and enhance reading and writing skills in lesson planning. (Photo: Save the Children)

Le Thi Thuy Duong, Program Director of Save the Children, stated: “The methods of Strengthening Primary Literacy Skills and Supporting Preschool Children to Get Familiar with Reading and Maths play a central role in Save the Children’s education strategy. They aim to create a comprehensive and inclusive educational environment where every child has the opportunity to develop the learning and life skills necessary for success. In the future, Save the Children will continue to expand the scope of these methods in Vietnam, while increasing investment in digital resources, technology applications, and community engagement to ensure that every child is supported in developing foundational learning skills, the key to helping them confidently embark on a lifelong learning journey.”

To realize this vision, the organization has adapted and tested the RTL and LB models to suit various contexts, including schools in mountainous regions, densely populated urban areas, and schools for children with disabilities. It has integrated technological solutions and conducted regular research and evaluations to update and refine the models, ensuring maximum effectiveness under all implementation conditions. Save the Children also continues to collaborate with donors, corporations, and non-governmental organizations to mobilize additional resources for the broader replication of these models in the near future.

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