In 2018, there are about 260 million children who cannot go to school, this accounts for nearly one-fifth of the global population. That was 2 years before COVID-19 emerged. Now, the situation is dramatically different: it continues to exacerbate after new waves of COVID-19 have delayed schools’ opening. Many more students are out of school; meanwhile, some stopped learning because they lack digital devices to study online.

So, What Is Really Happening? Let’s find out.

School Closures Take Away Opportunities

Never before have so many children been out of school at the same time, disrupting learning and upending lives, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized.

The United Nations

According to the United Nations, nearly 1.6 billion youngsters are out of school by 2020. This is staggering compared to the figure mentioned earlier in this article. During the pandemic, Most schools around the world are closed to protect students from getting infected, offering distance learning as an alternative solution.

However, not every student is privileged to have an adequate Internet connection and digital gadgets to study remotely. Lack of sufficient materials poses a hazard to students in poor or developing countries such as Vietnam.

The average income of rural households in Vietnam ranges around $150 per month before COVID-19, It has decreased sharply due to the pandemic. Therefore, hardly can these families afford expensive gadgets such as laptops or smartphones for their children to study online. As COVID-19 widened the rich and the poor gap, inequalities in education also accelerate.

Pressure Of Distance Learning

Poor students are not the only group adversely affected by school closures. Students who have access to distance learning also face various obstacles.

Home safety is one of those issues. In Vietnam, the unfortunate death of a 5th grader has ignited a media firestorm, warning parents and teachers need to keep an eye on students while they are learning virtually.

The student died immediately after receiving an electronic shock after using a metal stick to poke into the socket. Young students, especially primary students are susceptible to dangers at home without proper instruction and supervision of adults. It is crucial for parents to oversee their child’s learning process.

Stress is another struggle for pupils. Switching to a whole new studying method is not easy, and some younger students might struggle to cope with distance learning. School closures hindered them from meeting with their friends and socialize which consequently created stress and negatively impacted their development.

At Project Sprouts, we realize that we can not solve all the problems in a situation like this. But we can seek to make a difference in the lives of needy children by giving them school supplies and encouraging them to continue their education; we can give them winter coats, boots, and blankets to help them stay warm during the cold winter months.

Project Sprouts would love to have you be a part of our community and help us to help worthy children in North Vietnam. 

You can find out more about Project Sprouts by clicking here or go to our give now page to donate by clicking here. As we are a grassroots organization, all funds go to help those in need.

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Is Education In Vietnam Free?

The main education goal in Vietnam has always been “improving people’s general knowledge, training quality human resources, and nurturing and fostering talent.”

To fulfill this objective, excluding financial burdens to make education accessible to more children is compulsory. In other words, the tuition fee should not be a reason for a kid to discontinue his or her education. So, is Education In Vietnam Free?

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