Every afternoon, Nong Khanh Trang, a university junior majoring in education, comes to Van Ho Secondary School in Hanoi’s Hai Ba Trung district to teach a free class.
She said: “In the first few days my students seemed to have forgotten a lot, so I helped them review and practice their grammar to increase their confidence and improve their language level. They showed clear progress after a few lessons, which made me very happy.”
For Nguyen Linh Chi, a sophomore at Hanoi National University, the project is a meaningful summer activity which benefits both volunteers and students. “The high school entrance exam is an important step for every 9th grader, so they’re all under great pressure. I help systemize the lessons and fill the gaps left during their period of online learning, and encourage them to keep a positive spirit ahead of the exam,” Chi said.
Nguyen Gia Bao and Nguyen Ha Phuong are two of the 9th graders taking part in the project. They have improved with each lesson and are now ready for the upcoming exam.
“It’s very hard for me to master English grammar. The volunteer teachers have given me fast and effective support. They’re friendly and the lessons are easy to understand. They showed us some tips for taking exams and doing exercises, which makes me believe in what I can do in my upcoming exam.”
“I was really bad at math, and so were many of my classmates. But under the guidance of the volunteers, I can now do my math homework by myself, which has boosted my confidence a lot.”
Since May the project has attracted more than 2,000 volunteers, who are all sophomores and juniors from six pedagogical universities.Volunteers participating in the project are trained to effectively support 9th graders.
The project will be expanded to include primary and secondary schools throughout Hanoi from July to the end of September.
Mr. Truong Hoang Hai, General Director of Blacasa Education Vietnam, said: “The project will be expanded to 100 schools and support more than 5,000 students from 3rd to 9th grade. Learning in small groups helps children make up the learning that lagged during online classes. We only provide support for those in need, so they can catch up with their classmates.”