The Achievements After 2 Years
iLINK is a creative English language program for elementary school students in remote and mountainous areas where there is a severe shortage of English teachers and limited learning conditions.
iLINK uses a hybrid model combining face-to-face and online learning, allowing students in remote and mountainous areas to have equal opportunities for learning and development, narrowing the gap between different economic regions across the country.
In 2022, EQuest Group and iSMART Education provided free iLINK project funding for Mù Cang Chải District for 5 years with the hope of popularizing English in highland areas.
When the project was implemented, numerous challenges emerged, sometimes making the project team feel like they couldn't overcome them. The infrastructure was lacking, internet connectivity was unstable, local teachers had limited experience with technology, and the district only had 1 English teacher while having thousands of elementary school students. Moreover, the living and learning conditions of students in this area were extremely difficult, with rugged roads and harsh weather conditions making learning even more challenging.
After just 2 years of implementation, from being almost inaccessible to foreign languages, nearly 4,000 students from 16 schools in Mù Cang Chải District are now learning English with a 2-hour/week schedule (1 hour of English Math and 1 hour of English Science), and 114 local teachers can proficiently operate devices, lesson materials, and educational software.
Each year, iSMART opens up quality assessment periods to continuously improve the curriculum and approach to suit the abilities and learning capacity of highland students. The 2022-2023 academic year's assessment content included Math-Science knowledge and familiarity with reading skills. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the assessment content was upgraded and developed comprehensively, including Math-Science knowledge and reading, writing, and listening skills.
Despite learning a completely new program, the results were astonishing, with all students in Mù Căng Chải completing the assessments. The students' skills and knowledge, interaction, and synchronization with lesson materials have shown significant progress compared to the previous year, especially for 4th-grade students.
In the 2023-2024 academic year, the number of students scoring 7 or above and achieving excellent results increased by over 30%, while the number of students scoring below average decreased significantly compared to the 2022-2023 academic year. Notably, in 4th grade, the number of students scoring 9 and 10 increased by nearly 50% after one year of learning.
These achievements are highly encouraging, given that the students started with no prior English exposure, becoming students with basic English skills, correct pronunciation, and a rich vocabulary on various topics. This will serve as a foundation for them to keep up with English programs from the Ministry of Education or even participate in English programs and competitions.
Student Nam, a 5th-grade student at Mồ Dề Elementary and Middle School, Mù Cang Chải District, said:
“When I first started learning the iSMART English program, I was still hesitant to speak English with my teacher and classmates. However, after 2 years of learning English through Math and Science, I've become more confident and have learned many English phrases. I particularly enjoy English Science because it has many interesting and useful knowledge.”
Ms. Vũ My Lan, Director of iSMART's Northern Region, said, "Each semester, students are given assessments to evaluate their learning progress and ability to improve. This not only helps evaluate student abilities but also serves as a basis for iSMART's R&D team to continuously improve the curriculum and teaching methods. Seeing students' progress is a significant motivation for hundreds of teachers to continue researching and developing the program to make it easier and more effective for students in remote areas."
The Journey Continues
Two years may not be a long time, but it's enough to witness the daily changes in the lives of thousands of students in Mù Cang Chải's highlands. From the initial confusion, students and teachers now eagerly look forward to English classes, with pronunciation, exchanges, and even enthusiastic interactions with lesson materials. This is the result of the collective effort of many individuals.
Mr. Nguyễn Anh Thủy, Director of Mù Cang Chải District's Department of Education and Training, shared: "After two years of working with the project, the results have left us all surprised. The skills of both teachers and students have significantly improved. With a long-term vision, providing foreign languages to elementary school students will create fundamental changes in the local workforce's future."
After two years of effort, the learning environment at beneficiary schools has improved significantly, and the process of digitalizing education in the area has accelerated. The program has also laid the groundwork for concern about the long-term sustainability of children in highland and ethnic minority areas. A completely non-profit project, yet it has brought about significant and long-term benefits.
From EQuest's side, after two years of implementing the project, Ms. Trần Thị Thu Thủy (Director of ESG Projects at EQuest Group) added: "EQuest Group has always been concerned about existing education issues such as a lack of teachers and limited education in remote and mountainous areas. iLINK is a pioneering project of the group, contributing to bridging the educational gap between remote and urban areas through technological solutions, digital lesson materials, and a socially meaningful program that we want to contribute to Vietnam's education."
This is not limited to Mù Căng Chải; EQuest Group and the iLink project team hope to bring the teaching method and training program to provinces and remote areas across the country. iLink is not just an English language program but also aims to become a knowledge bridge, contributing to equalizing and socializing education in a specific and practical way, allowing students in a poor region to access a new language and culture, opening up opportunities for their future.
