Launching the Program 'Waves and Computers for Children'

On the evening of September 12, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Government held the Launching Ceremony of the Program “Waves and Computers for Children”. The program was organized online at 63 locations nationwide.

Also attending at the Government Office bridge were comrades: Le Minh Khai - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; Do Van Chien - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Nguyen Trong Nghia - Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department; Vu Duc Dam - Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Government Party Personnel Committee, Deputy Prime Minister;

Also attending were Comrade Nguyen Thi Doan - former member of the Party Central Committee, former Vice President, President of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education; comrades who are members of the Party Central Committee: Dao Ngoc Dung - Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; Nguyen Manh Hung - Minister of Information and Communications; Nguyen Kim Son - Minister of Education and Training; Comrade Ho Duc Phoc - Minister of Finance; Nguyen Dac Vinh - Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, and representatives of a number of relevant ministries and branches.

At Nghe An bridge point, there were comrades: Vo Thi Minh Sinh - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee - Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province; Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Also attending were comrades who are members of the Provincial Party Executive Committee: Thai Van Thanh - Director of the Department of Education and Training, Dao Hong Vu - Director of the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, leaders of the Department of Information and Communications and a number of related departments, branches and sectors.

Delegates at Nghe An bridgehead. Photo: MH

Many difficulties in online teaching and learning

New school year2021-2022 begins with many difficulties and challenges in the context of the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, although teachers, students, and families across the country are trying their best to carry out teaching and learning activities, organizing teaching and learning activities in the first days of the new school year is facing many difficulties, especially for localities implementing social distancing.

In particular, at this time many provinces and cities have to organizeonline teachingHowever, due to limited internet connection, poor teaching software, lack of learning equipment for many students, and difficulties in family support, teaching and learning in many places is not effective.

Previously, according to statistics from the Department of Facilities (Ministry of Education and Training), as of September 12, 26/63 provinces and cities nationwide are organizing online learning (some provinces only conduct online learning in some areas, some provinces do not have social distancing but are at high risk and still allow online learning). Of which, the total number of students at all levels studying online is estimated at about 7,350,000. The total number of students without computers to study online in 26 provinces and cities studying online and needing support is estimated at about 1.5 million.

With the above difficulties, speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung clearly stated the significance of the program “Waves and computers for children”. This program, in addition to prioritizing computer support and telecommunications services for students with difficult learning circumstances, also aims to promote digital transformation.

Teachers and representatives of units check computers before installing them for students in Cua Lo town. Photo: PV

The program "Wave and Computer for Children" will support the following: Internet wave support: 100% free of charge when students use some online teaching platforms; Support servers for universities if using online teaching software as announced by the Ministry of Information and Communications; Service package prices remain unchanged, but Internet capacity is doubled; Telecommunications companies are implementing to increase Internet bandwidth capacity in major cities.

In particular, the program calls for support of nearly 1 million computers for students and free online teaching software.

Creating equality in learning

Previously, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was the one who built the idea of ​​this program. After 5 days of implementation, with profound social and humanistic significance, the program has spread to many localities across the country, including Nghe An.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of the "Waves and Computers for Children" program, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that with will and determination, we are controlling the epidemic well.

At this time, the Prime Minister also emphasized the need to pay attention to disadvantaged students and those in areas without signal; the Party and State clearly understand and share with families and students during this difficult period.

Delegates listen to the Prime Minister's speech at Nghe An bridgehead. Photo: MH

Currently, the Party, the State, ministries, branches and localities are implementing many short-term and long-term solutions to be able to safely open schools for students. Currently, although online learning is a new learning method, it is not really suitable for students in difficult circumstances, students from ethnic minorities, remote areas. During the teaching and learning process, the Prime Minister noted that schools, teachers and parents need to have appropriate solutions to prevent bad and toxic information from affecting students' learning.

In the coming time, one of the goals is to move towards opening schools safely so that students do not have to study online. To do so, localities need to develop plans to build safe schools, safe for teaching and learning. At the same time, it is necessary to carry out vaccination for children early, especially for children aged 12 and above.

The Prime Minister also requested the Ministry of Information and Communications to coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant departments and sectors to build good infrastructure and ensure sufficient signal for students to study online. At the same time, departments, sectors and localities should promote the spirit of "helping each other", "mutual love" and great national unity to support online teaching equipment for students. In addition, "the more difficult the situation, the more creative and innovative", building many effective teaching programs on many different platforms so that students can access knowledge and have fun while studying.

The comrades presiding at the Nghe An bridge point. Photo: MH

In addition, ministries and branches should also promptly design examination and assessment programs associated with online learning to ensure quality and create peace of mind for parents and students.

At the launching ceremony, the Prime Minister also mentioned the development trend in the flat world, global connection in cyberspace and the need for a new vision. Therefore, each computer, each area with signal, each child connected to learning in cyberspace will contribute to sowing seeds, those seeds will grow and spread to create a digital society, digital economy, protecting love and compassion. The program will spread positive energy, contributing to building a better society in the digital age; so that students in remote areas, border areas, islands, etc. can have equal access to education and the best things.

Nghe An teachers deploy online lessons via television. Photo: MH

Immediately after the launching ceremony, localities, organizations and businesses also donated thousands of teaching devices to students nationwide. Thereby, the program received more than 1 million computers, equivalent to 2,350 billion VND; The coverage value was equivalent to 3 trillion VND. Nghe An province also supported more than 1,300 devices for this program.