In an active response to the 'Internet and computers for students' national campaign, the Trade Union of Hi-tech Parks and Da Nang Industrial Zones has promptly granted online learning equipment to local students who are children of disadvantaged workers in a bid to help maintain their online learning during the ongoing the 2021 - 2022 school year amid the COVID-19 surge.

Nguyen Tran My Duyen, a 10th grader at Phan Thanh Tai Senior High School (first, left) receives online learning equipment under the 'Internet and computers for students' national campaign. Photo: TRA GIANG

The national campaign is designated to appeal for donations from all sectors across Viet Nam to ensure that “no student is left behind” in terms of study opportunities.

Under the campaign, at least one million computers together with Internet connections will be handed over to underprivileged K-12 students so that they can keep up with online classes. It also ensures fairness in accessing new teaching and learning methods, thereby contributing to the development of a digital society.

The campaign is in line with the Vietnamese prime minister’s orientation of supporting teachers and students with online learning instruments amid a halt to on-campus education due to fears over COVID-19 outbreaks.

In the 2021- 2022 school year that started in early September, online learning will be considered a regular solution for education during the ongoing pandemic.

In reality, many students of low-income and financially challenged households in Da Nang have faced some difficulties in join virtual classes due to a shortage of tablet computers and accompanying gadgets. The campaign is, therefore, of great significance.

The situation of Nguyen Tran My Duyen, a 10^th grader at Phan Thanh Tai Senior High School, and the daughter of Tran Thi Be, a worker at the Hoa Binh Carton Packaging Production Co., Ltd is a typical case.

Duyen said she and her younger sister had to join virtual classes at the same time, whilst her family had the only one smart phone owned by her mother.

“If I studied online with this phone, my younger sister had to read books or borrow another from our uncle and auntie”, Duyen complained.

Still worse, in some cases Duyen failed to maintain her online learning due to sluggish Internet connection with wifi sharing from her neighbours.

Receiving a new mobile phone as a support gift from the Trade Union of Hi-Tech Parks and Industrial Zones under the campaign, Duyen could not hide her joy.

“From now on, I won't have to worry about the unexpected interruption ofonline classes as a result of the lack of reliable internet access”, said Duyen.

In another cases, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tau, a worker of Kad Industrial S.A Vietnam One Member Co., Ltd. expressed her joy over the reception of a new smart phone from the Trade Union of Hi-Tech Parks and Industrial Zones. The new gadget has become an indispensable accompanying tool essential to her son’s online learning.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, Chairman of the Trade Union of Da Nang Hi-Tech Park and Industrial Zones, till date, 13 disadvantaged students awarded with gifts, with each valued at VND3 million, consisting a mobile phone, headset, sim and VND300,000 in cash.

“We have deployed it quickly, to the right audience because the children's learning needs are very urgent. If they are late for one more day, they will lose one day of schooling. For those who stay in centralised quarantine facilities, or live in blockaded areas, we will directly hand over equipment to them," Trung said.

Reporting by TRA GIANG – Translating by A. THU