Minister Nguyen Manh Hung talks about digital transformation of education

Hai Duong e-newspaper respectfully introduces the full text of the Minister's article.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung talks with students of the Academy of Posts and Telecommunications in September 2020. Photo: Trong Dat

Digital transformation of education first requires a broadband digital infrastructure to every citizen and every household. Currently, there are nearly 2,000 signal depressions nationwide, and the Ministry of Information and Communications aims to have no more signal depressions by the end of 2021. By the end of this year, provinces are also striving for each household to have at least one smartphone, especially in remote areas. By early 2023, 100% of people will switch to using smartphones. Before 2025, each household will basically have a super-broadband fiber optic Internet line. In addition, Vietnamese telecommunications enterprises have always had special preferential prices for education for many years. The National Digital Infrastructure Strategy that the Prime Minister will issue this year aims for Vietnam to be in the top 30 in the world before 2025. This is a huge effort of the information and communications industry to contribute to the development of the country, including the education and training sector.

Talking about digital transformation means talking about electronic payment. The Prime Minister has directed to accelerate electronic payment for the education and training sector. Currently, electronic payment in schools is still very low, below 10%. The two biggest bottlenecks of this are the lack of uniform application of payment connection standards and the collection of electronic payment fees. The Ministry of Information and Communications has agreed with the banking sector on payment connection standards, requesting the Ministry of Education and Training to issue a document requesting training institutions to apply this standard in their fee management software. The banking sector has also agreed not to collect electronic payment fees for schools. The remaining part is that the Minister of Education and Training requires electronic payment to reach at least 60% at each educational institution by 2022.

Some universities have prepared digital infrastructure for digital university.

The most important thing in digital transformation is not technology, nor money, but the political determination of the leader. It determines 80% of success. Because digital transformation is related to changing the way of operation. Technology only helps us make that change. For example, do we accept online exams? Do we accept digital universities? Regarding technology, we have many good digital technology companies. But digital technology has two important characteristics. First, if we want it to be excellent, if we want it to be smart, we have to use it first, because only by using it can it gradually become perfect and excellent. Second, if we want it to be cheap, we have to use it together. Both of these can only be overcome with the determination of the leader. Because the natural reflex of people with something new is to criticize and not want to use it because they are afraid of change, especially in the early stages. And 44,000 schools, if spontaneous, tend to buy 44,000 different software, which is both expensive and disconnected.

Students attend one last class to talk directly with teachers, in the online classroom space they have become accustomed to over the years.

For rapid and sustainable development, the most suitable solution in the current period is digital development, because it consumes the least resources. The technologies of the fourth industrial revolution also focus mainly on digital development. Innovation is also mainly in the field of digital technology. Digital development can be considered the main development of the first half of the 21st century. Any country or industry that wants to break through and change its ranking must take advantage of this opportunity. But it must be ahead of others, ahead of other countries. If we have to choose one to make a breakthrough in the next 5 years, the education and training sector should consider choosing digital transformation, considering it a long-term, strategic solution, not a situational solution to cope with Covid. Digital technology and digital transformation can help solve many long-standing problems of the education and training sector. And the Ministry of Information and Communications would like to accompany the Ministry of Education and Training in the digital transformation process.

From zero, a high school in the suburbs of Hanoi has "transformed" into a bright spot in online teaching, with changes in teachers.

The main solution for digital transformation in education is shared digital platforms. The education and training sector has had many innovative policies but lacked an effective implementation tool. The digital revolution has brought to the sector a revolutionary tool, which is nationwide shared platforms. And not only is it effective, it also allows the sector to have stronger and more radical reforms. Every need will be solved by a digital platform. And if viewed from this perspective, schools, especially at the university level, are increasingly more like technology businesses than traditional schools. And in fact, schools will have to develop technology and content for teaching. But schools will do this by cooperating with technology companies to bring their knowledge and teaching methods to digital platforms.

I wish the education and training sector a successful digital transformation and a great contribution to the cause of reviving a strong, prosperous and happy Vietnam!