VVOB, alongside Quang Tri Province People’s Committee and Quang Tri Department of Education and Training, were delighted to welcome a high-level Belgian delegation led by Stéphanie D’Hose, President of the Belgian Senate, Karl Van Den Bossche, Belgian Ambassador and other members of the Belgium Senate and the Chamber of Representatives to Quang Tri province, Vietnam on 23 August 2023 to learn more about VVOB’s TALK project.
Preschool Teachers Apply Language-rich Teaching Skills and Knowledge (TALK)
The project - Preschool Teachers Apply Language-rich Teaching Skills and Knowledge (TALK) – a five-year project funded by the Belgian government and implemented by VVOB in collaboration with provincial departments of education and training, focuses on the professional development of teachers and school leaders in the provinces of Quảng Trị, Hà Giang and Gia Lai. The goal is to ensure that preschools in ethnically diverse and disadvantaged districts provide a strong foundation for preschool children to have a smooth transition to primary school with the necessary language skills, and for continued learning and development.
Vietnam has made substantial progress in providing access to early childhood education for children from aged 3 to 5, however, challenges persist in achieving equitable learning outcomes, particularly for children from ethnic minority groups who speak languages other than Vietnamese at home. These children often face a learning gap due to lower average scores on child-developmental scales and starting school without proficiency in the language of instruction, Vietnamese.
Today’s visit by the Belgian delegation reaffirms Belgium commitment to promoting inclusive education and building language-rich learning environments for preschool children in Vietnam. Led by esteemed representatives from Belgium, the delegation engaged in fruitful discussions with representatives of Quang Tri Province People’s Committee, Quang Tri Department of Education and Training and other relevant departments in the province.
Shared learning
One of the highlights of the visit was the observation of a creative professional teacher meeting facilitated by educational officers, teachers and school leaders within the project. By observing the meeting, the Belgian delegation witnessed the transformational effects of language-rich teaching practices and listened to the experiences teachers and school leaders shared with one another. During the meeting, teachers also shared stories about the progress children from diverse ethnic backgrounds were making through the development of their language skills and the expression of their creativity, reducing learning gaps that had previously existed.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the project, Stephanie D’Hose, President of Belgian Senate stated, “it was a very interesting activity to observe, and I can see that you have been working really hard to provide quality education to children, I really want to stress the importance of your work, and also would like to say thank you for all of your efforts for quality education.”
Building a sustainable future through inclusive education
With the visit of the high-level Belgium delegation, Quang Tri province has received a significant boost in recognition and support. The delegation's commitment to inclusive education and language development serves as an inspiration for all stakeholders involved in ensuring educational equity in Vietnam. Dr. Pham Thi Thu - national expert from Vietnam National College for Education, stressed the significance of the project in addressing these challenges. "Building language-rich learning environments and paying attention to children's wellbeing and involvement is crucial to closing the learning gap and ensuring all children are ready for learning.”
As the visit concluded, Hà Thị Thu Hương – VVOB Education Manager, expressed gratitude for the Belgium delegation's unwavering support. "The visit of the high-level Belgium delegation further validates the importance of our work in promoting language-rich teaching practices and improving access to quality education for all children,"- said Huong. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with Belgium and other stakeholders in building a sustainable future through inclusive education."
In September, VVOB was also delighted to welcome and join representatives from the Early Childhood Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Training in Vietnam, a high-level delegation from Flanders led by Minister-President Jan Jambon, and representatives from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education to engaged in discussions on the crucial link between education and societal development, emphasising the significance of knowledge exchange and innovation.
Note: This article was originally published on 23/08 and was updated on 16/09 to include the last paragraph on the second high-level visit.
