Pioneers in implementing digital classrooms

Classes with smart interactive boards - one of the forms of teaching applying information technology being implemented in schools in disadvantaged areas.

On the digital transformation journey of Vietnam’s education sector, there are classrooms that are still lit up at night, where technology becomes the door to new knowledge. But there are also silent classrooms, dusty machines. Behind this situation, the human factor, especially the teacher, is the decisive factor for technology to truly illuminate knowledge.

Hands that light up knowledge

In a small room of a suburban school, among old computer desks, the IT teacher patiently guides students to do exercises on the online platform Khan Academy Vietnam. Their fingers are still clumsy, but their eyes shine with excitement. "Teacher, I did it!", the cheers made Ms. Ly Thi Thanh Vinh, Principal of Duc Ninh Secondary School (Duc Ninh commune, Tuyen Quang province) smile slightly.

When the Khan Academy Vietnam (KAV) program was launched in Tuyen Quang, Ms. Vinh was the first to register. For her, the digital platform is not only a learning tool, but also a “door to the world ” for students in disadvantaged areas. “Students here do not have the conditions to take extra classes. With KAV, they can study and practice by themselves until they have a solid understanding of the knowledge and become more confident every day,” she shared.

In Duc Ninh, about 25% of students come from households with special circumstances, many of them do not have learning devices, have to borrow their parents' phones or share a computer at home. Understanding that, Ms. Vinh directed the opening of the IT Room at night for students to take turns studying. IT teachers and subject teachers take turns instructing. "At first, teachers had to tutor small groups. A few weeks later, the students themselves taught each other. They learned very quickly and were very interested," she said.

Those small changes bring big results. Duc Ninh students gradually learn to self-study and self-assess their abilities. Some students who achieve 100% “Mastery” on the system also proactively learn math in English. From the small light in Duc Ninh, it can be seen that digital transformation does not start with equipment, but with people - from the heart and belief of the teacher.

People - the core "software" of digital transformation

While technology has become the driving force for innovation in Duc Ninh, somewhere, the digital transformation journey still encounters gaps, when equipment is invested in more than expected. At Meo Vac High School (Meo Vac commune, Tuyen Quang province), foreign language classrooms have been invested in synchronously with computers, sound systems, and screens - the hope for innovation in teaching and learning foreign languages in the highlands.

“When equipped, the equipment worked well. But after the 2023 renovation, the installation was not correct so the classroom could not be used anymore. We had to use it as a computer lab for students,” said Ms. Luong Thi Ngoc, the school’s principal.

This story shows that, even though modern equipment is invested, if there is a lack of operating skills, it will not function properly, causing waste and that is also a measure of responsibility and management capacity in each school.

Digital transformation is not about bringing computers into the classroom, but about changing the way of teaching and learning. Devices are the tools, people are the center.
Director of Secondary Education Department, Ministry of Education and Training Thai Van Tai

This reality is not unique. In 2024, the Inspectorate of Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh Province (old) pointed out that many schools only focused on proposing new purchases, not paying attention to maintaining existing equipment. In Quang Nam, foreign language teaching equipment under the Foreign Language Project 2020 in many places was not effective, some schools received it and it broke down shortly after...

“Digital transformation is not about bringing computers into the classroom, but about changing the way of teaching and learning. Devices are tools, people are the center,” affirmed Thai Van Tai, Director of the Department of Secondary Education (Ministry of Education and Training).

Ms. Cao Tam, a teacher at Hoa Loc Primary School (Hoa Loc Commune, Thanh Hoa Province), shared: "No one is born good at technology. But for the sake of our students, we have to learn from the beginning." In Phu Tho, Ms. Chu Thi Thu Hang, Principal of Hung Vuong Primary School, said: "If we want students to be proactive, teachers must master technology first. We cannot teach creativity using the old teaching method." These simple shares reflect the spirit that Resolution 71-NQ/TW (2025) of the Politburo emphasized: "Teachers are the driving force, deciding the quality of education and training."

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, by 2024, 65% of general schools will have deployed online teaching and learning platforms, 35% will have an internal learning management system (LMS). But that journey will only be sustainable when linked to the human factor - teachers who know how to adapt and lead students into the digital world.

THU TRANG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhung-nguoi-tien-phong-trien-khai-lop-hoc-so-post915172.html