On April 10, the Center for Rural Development in Central Vietnam (CRD), University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University in collaboration with Thủy Phù lower secondary school hosted a school dialogue on the theme of “Students’ voice in education”.

Overview of the school dialogue

This activity was within the framework of the project “Strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations on child rights governance” funded by Save the Children International.

This is the second time CRD has collaborated with Thuỷ Phù lower secondary school to successfully hold the school dialogue. The dialogue attracted the participation of 120 people including: students, representatives from Hương Thủy town’s Sub-department of Education and Training, locality, unions, school board, teachers and parents.

Important messages related to students’ concerns through skits, pictures, clips were delivered to the dialogue by 100 students representing all students in the school. Simultaneously, 20 questions were directly sent to school leaders and authority to express their ideas and wishes.

Questions proposed in the dialogue mainly focused on 4 themes: (1) prevention of school violence; (2) children with climate change and envorinmental protection; (3) protecting children online and (4) promoting the right of children to participation in the school.

Mr. Ngô Hoàng Giang, the principle of Thủy Phù lower secondary school said: After the school dialogue in the year 2020, more fans were installed, lighting was checked, and the cement tiles were replaced to make cooler, brighter and spacious classrooms for students. The locality has installed an automatic railway barrier to ensure children’s safety when crossing the railway to school. The school dialogue today has received many practical ideas showing that students has contributed to build a friendly school. Within the school’s financial capacity and human resources, we try to find ways to meet their reasonable demands.”

Lê Quý Đôn, a student shared after the school dialogue: “This was the second time, I have joined the dialogue and I found it useful. Students are less shy and feel free to express their opinions. Thanks to that, our school has actions to deal with the concerns”.

The dialogue was implemented in order to listen, understand and “talk the talk walk the walk”. In the open dialogue, the authority, the school and stakeholders listened to children’s concerns carefully. By this way, the parties will work closely to make plans and take actions to meet children’s expectation in the upcoming time.

A message is delivered through a skit

Student is presenting idea at the dialogue

Students are confident to propose questions

Mr. Ngô Hoàng Giang, the principle of Thủy Phù lower secondary school answers the students’ questions  

Students get gifts from the project