Teachers bridge digital divide for ethnic students
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In Vietnam’s Central Highlands region, teachers are personally delivering technology and instruction to students in ethnic minority villages who lack smartphones and internet access.
Many schools nationwide are modernizing with digital tools, but students from poor families in remote areas are falling behind. Lê Thị Việt, principal of Nơ Trang Lơng Primary School in Krông Pắc Commune, reported that 725 students in her district don’t have the devices needed for lessons.
Teachers are visiting students’ homes, guiding both children and parents on how to use learning software, even when parents have never used a smartphone before. Some schools face additional challenges, such as broken televisions and unreliable internet connections, requiring teachers to download materials in advance. Trần Quốc Toản Primary School in Lâm Đồng Province has a staff where over 60 percent of teachers are over 40 years old, and are adapting to new technology while also managing their usual duties.
Younger teachers at schools like Tô Hiệu Primary School are helping older colleagues learn digital skills. Experts at Tây Nguyên University emphasize that bridging this “digital gap” requires community involvement, including donations of used phones and improved internet access. Phan Thanh Hải, deputy director of Lâm Đồng Department of Education and Training, stated the need for investment in digital skills and learning materials appropriate for ethnic students, so that all students can access a fair start in the digital classroom.
