The year 2023 is a busy one for The Vietnam Association for Nonpublic Preschool Education (VANPPE), especially in teachers’ professional development, fund-raising to support kindergarten children in disadvantaged areas, and international cooperation. Let’s look back into an activity-packed year in this “year in review” video.
With its continued focus on preschool teachers’ professional development, throughout the year 2023 VANPPE was able to organize 20 days of Professional Development training for 4,400 managers and non-public preschool teachers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Dong Nai. Nai, Da Nang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Bac Giang, Hoa Binh, Bac Ninh, Thanh Hoa. Topics of training include:
- What’s new in preschool STEM education;
- Introduction to STEM activity design and delivery in preschool classes;
- Using iPad in the preschool classroom: ToT class by Apple Learning Specialist.
Australian partner Fluent Education volunteered to develop the first-ever online program “English for Vietnamese preschool teachers” for 400 Vietnamese preschool teachers, with more than 300 of teachers completing the foundational course during the short period of October 2023-January 2024.
In May 2023, VANPPE launched a fund-raising program to mobilize cash and in-kind gifts for disadvantaged children in mountainous communes in Quang Tri and Thanh Hoa province. Specifically, in Quang Tri, 1,086 gift sets of children’s clothes and school backpacks, generously sponsored by leading children’ fashion brand Rabity and 84 cash gift (72 gifts worth 200,000 VND and 12 gifts, each worth 100,000 VND) were presented to kindergarten-age children, while 304 gift sets were presented to children in Thanh Hoa province.
In the area of international cooperation, VANPPE had a multitude of activities throughout the year. Some highlights include:
– In March 2023, VANPPE coordinated with the University of Education, Hanoi National University and Education New Zealand to organize a seminar on the topic of “Sharing experiences in preschool education: the Vietnam and New Zealand perspective” with Professor Marek Tesar from University of Auckland sharing New Zealand’s experience in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and discuss angles for Vietnamese kindergartens to further explore some of these best practices;
– In May-July 2023, VANPPE engaged Canadian MBA students to conduct a survey to assess the need for STEM programs in non-public preschools. Report of findings from the survey can be found here.
– VANPPE invited lead trainers from Act3 International Academy, Singapore to lead a practitioner workshop on the topic of “Application of drama in preschool education: Singapore experience”. Trainer shared their experiences from decades of applying drama techniques and arts education in preschools in Singapore that encourages the development of children’s multiple intelligences, helps children discover themselves, interact well with their bodies and develop emotional intelligence.
– During December 2023-February 2023, VANPPE supports Neurofrog, the AI parenting app from New Zealand, with pilot implementation in Vietnam.
Building on the momentum of 2023, in 2024, VANPPE will continue our efforts in preschool teachers’ professional development, support digital transformation in early childhood education (ECE) and the rolling of the new ECE curriculum in all localities.
