Tackling Unequal Access to Digital Education in Viet Nam during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam’s Ministry of Education and Training has ordered the closure of schools and facilitated the transition to distance learning to ensure student safety and continuity of education. The closure of schools has deepened the digital divide in the country. In 2019–2021, about 1.5 million students did not have access to online education. On 21 September 2021, the Sóng và Máy tính cho em (Internet Connection and Computers for Students) program was launched by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with the ambitious goal of narrowing the digital divide in education by 2023. However, as a developing country, how has Viet Nam sought to provide equal access to digital education for all students across the country in a short period of time? This case study looks at the experience of Internet Connection and Computers for Students—a flagship program of the Viet Nam government to address the difficulties of accessing remote learning.

DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY NO: 2022-3