What is digital transformation in education in Vietnam?

What is digital transformation in education in Vietnam?

Digital transformation in education involves the application of information and communication technology (ICT) to all activities within the education sector, from management and teaching to learning.

It involves replacing traditional methods with modern technological solutions to enhance the effectiveness and quality of education.

Most recently, on August 14, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Dispatch 4324/BGDDT-CNTT in 2024 guiding the implementation of ICT tasks, digital transformation, and educational statistics for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The key tasks for the application of ICT, digital transformation, and educational statistics for the 2024-2025 academic year include:

Digital transformation in teaching, learning, and assessment;

Digital transformation in the management of educational institutions and the creation of educational databases;

Continuing the effective implementation of online public services and cashless payments in education.

What is digital transformation in education in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are guidelines on implementing key tasks of digital transformation in educational institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year in Vietnam?

Based on Subsection 2 of Section 2 Official Dispatch 4324/BGDDT-CNTT in 2024 guiding digital transformation in the management of educational institutions and the building of educational databases:

(1) Continue to deploy school management software to 100% of educational institutions, at a minimum deploying the modules: learner management (records, learning outcomes, training, transcripts, health), staff management, facility management (including the list of minimum teaching equipment, housing for teachers, classrooms, clean water, sanitation facilities), school health, finance (cashless payments); ensure seamless connection with the education sector's database.

(2) Advise leaders at all levels to allocate resources to deploy digital transcripts in general education; build a database of diplomas and certificates aiming towards the issuance of digital diplomas, digital certificates, and publicizing information on the issuance of diplomas and certificates as per the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

(3) Develop and complete the database according to Circular 42/2021/TT-BGDDT of the Minister of Education and Training on the educational and training database, focusing on the following tasks:

- Continue to expand the educational sector's database, connecting with national databases to enhance the utility and efficiency of educational management (database on preschool education, continuing education, physical education, ethnic education, political work for students, facilities, and digital transformation).

- Organize the updating of data on the educational sector's database systems to ensure the provision of complete, accurate information, promptly as required by the Ministry of Education and Training; complete the full update of personal identification numbers of teachers and learners; fully update learners' academic results on the educational sector's database each term; especially complete the full information of grade 12 students to serve the high school graduation exam and university admission, preschool education college admission, and the information of students for first-year admissions (grade 6 and grade 10 of ethnic boarding schools).

- Upgrade and deploy the illiteracy eradication information system on the basis of connection and inheritance of existing data from the national population database and the educational sector's database.

- Strictly implement periodic educational statistical reporting policies for preschool, general, and continuing education at School/Center, District, Department of Education and Training (beginning and end of the academic year) on time, full, accurate content as per the policies on educational sector statistical reporting, the policies on periodic reporting within the state management scope of the Ministry of Education and Training, and sudden reports as requested by the Ministry of Education and Training.

In addition, based on Subsection 3 of Section 2 Official Dispatch 4324/BGDDT-CNTT in 2024 guiding the continued effective implementation of online public services and cashless payments in education, prioritizing some services as follows:

- Online service for registering for the high school graduation exam; online service for university admissions, preschool education college admissions on the national public service portal at the full process level.

- Online services for registering and admitting students at all educational levels; online services for diploma and certificate recognition, aiming to implement at the full process level.

- Focus on deploying 03 groups of online public services, full process interconnection on the National Public Service Portal according to Decision 206/QD-TTg in 2021 of the Prime Minister of Vietnam

- Promote the cashless payment of tuition fees and other charges by connecting educational institution fee management software with cashless payment platforms provided on the National Public Service Portal.

What are the 6 basic solutions for digital transformation in the management of educational institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year in Vietnam?

Based on Section 3 Official Dispatch 4324/BGDDT-CNTT in 2024, the 6 basic solutions for digital transformation management in educational institutions for the 2024-2025 academic year include:

[1] Strengthen the organization and units responsible for IT, digital transformation, and educational statistics:

- For the Department of Education and Training and the District Education Office: Assign unit/agency leaders, department/section leaders, and specialists to be focal points for IT tasks, digital transformation, and educational statistics.

- For educational institutions: Assign institution leaders responsible and public employees or teachers to concurrently act as focal points for IT tasks, digital transformation, and educational statistics.

[2] Implement digital transformation assessment of educational institutions according to Decision 4725/QD-BGDDT year 2022 of the Ministry of Education and Training issuing the assessment index for digital transformation in primary and secondary educational institutions and continuing education.

[3] Enhance institutional framework: Agencies and units that manage information systems and educational databases should enhance the review and completion of regulations on the management, operation, and utilization of IT systems; specifically assign responsibilities for managing and utilizing data as per regulations (assign specific departments or sections to review, validate, and standardize the accuracy of the data at each educational level on the educational sector's database); ensure compliance with state regulations on personal information and data ownership; regularly disseminate and reinforce directives, guidelines for implementing IT tasks, digital transformation, and educational statistics.

[4] Ensure resources for ICT application, educational digital transformation:

- Review and advise local governments on procuring, maintaining, and upgrading equipment to meet ICT application requirements, digital transformation in teaching, learning, testing, evaluation, and educational management; ensure fiber-optic Internet connection, wireless Internet service in educational institutions.

- Implement measures to ensure information security for IT systems; regularly review and address potential information security risks; absolutely ensure the security of educational database system data.

[5] Develop human resources for digital transformation in education: Continue to promote awareness among management staff and educators on the role and outcomes of ICT application, digital transformation in educational activities; disseminate and promote awareness on personal data protection, skills to use digital devices, and safe participation in the digital environment; equip software against viruses with licensed software; implement activities in response to National Digital Transformation Day on October 10 each year.

[6] Develop plans and organize inspection, monitoring, assessment of ICT application tasks, digital transformation, and educational statistics, ensuring at least 30% of subordinate units are inspected (can be combined into the annual inspection plan).