Summary of Phase 1 of the "Wireless and Computers for Children" Program

Today, January 18th, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), organized a nationwide online conference to summarize the first phase of the "Wireless and Computers for Children" program.

The "Wireless and Computers for Children" program, launched by the Prime Minister on September 12, 2021, aims to provide tablet computers for online learning to disadvantaged students from poor and near-poor households, as well as students whose parents died due to COVID-19.

Summary of Phase 1 of the

Delegates attending the nationwide online conference summarizing phase 1 of the "Wireless and Computers for Children" program at the Quang Tri branch - Photo: TH

The program, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Training in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Communications, is carried out in two phases. Phase 1 mobilized 1 million tablets to support disadvantaged students in localities under lockdown due to COVID-19; Phase 2 continues to mobilize resources to ensure that 100% of disadvantaged students are equipped with computers for online learning, thereby promoting digital transformation.

In phase 1, the Ministry of Education and Training received and distributed 92,629 tablets from telecommunications companies to students in 24 provinces and cities under social distancing measures due to COVID-19; and received and distributed approximately 513 billion VND to 17 localities to proactively purchase tablets for students.

To date, a total of 600,000 tablets have been delivered to students; the remaining 400,000 tablets from phase 1 are expected to be disbursed by June 2024. Along with receiving the tablet support, the Ministry of Information and Communications has directed telecommunications companies to support the application and deployment of mobile broadband coverage in areas without coverage in provinces and cities implementing social distancing; and to continue expanding coverage to areas with weak signals, meeting the needs for connectivity and supporting online teaching and learning.

However, due to numerous bidding regulations and the impact of COVID-19, the computers have been delivered to students slowly, and their effectiveness has not been high. Furthermore, to date, 620 villages in remote areas still lack telecommunication coverage, and over 70 villages lack electricity, thus preventing the program from being implemented in these locations.

In Quang Tri province, to date, the total amount of money and in-kind donations from agencies, units, businesses, and philanthropists supporting the "Wireless and Computers for Children" program has exceeded 38.3 billion VND. The local Department of Education and Training has organized three rounds of procurement, selection, and donation of 14,930 tablet computers to disadvantaged students from poor and near-poor households, and students whose parents died due to COVID-19, with a total cost of over 36.4 billion VND. All tablet computers given to students meet the minimum technical standards recommended by the Ministry of Information and Communications. Currently, there are still 3,868 students in the province who need computer support in phase 1.

Regarding the "Wireless and Computers for Children" program, phase 2, the Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Communications, continues to mobilize support for laptops and tablets for students, shifting from quantity to quality, applying technology and artificial intelligence to build new learning content for students, helping different student groups access digital data equally and free of charge.

At the same time, there are more sustainable solutions to support schools and school branches in accessing better quality internet, continuing to expand coverage to eliminate telecommunication service gaps, thereby contributing to the implementation of breakthrough digital transformation solutions in the education and training sector...

The proposal suggests that the Government allow the use of the remaining more than 28 billion VND saved through bidding to enable localities to continue purchasing computers for libraries in educational institutions with students eligible for the program. Schools should be responsible for storing, managing, and using the computers effectively. The Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with local authorities, should strengthen inspection and supervision to improve the efficiency of managing and using the program's computer equipment, minimizing damage and preventing the resale of this deeply meaningful humanitarian gift.

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