Ambassador Iain Frew engages with ethnic minority students on learning environment initiatives
British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew, along with representatives from the UK Home Office and the British Embassy Hanoi, visited Nghe An Provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2 in Nghe An Province as part of an official visit.
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| British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew interacts with students at the Nghe An Provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2 in Nghe An Province. (Photo: British Embassy in Vietnam) |
He discussed youth-led initiatives with students to foster psychological safety and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive school environment there. The communications plan for preventing school violence, promoting gender equality, LGBT+ rights, increasing inclusivity for ethnic minority students, and promoting psychological safety in schools was presented by a core group of 25 students, representing over 750 students from 10 ethnic minority groups.
The initiative was funded by the UK Government's Chevening Alumni Programme Fund and implemented by Chevening Scholars and volunteers. The idea has been piloted in Nghe An Provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2 since early November 2024.
Principal of Nghe An Provincial Ethnic Boarding High School No. 2, Ho Quoc Viet remarked: "Recognising the importance of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the school environment, our faculty has strived to incorporate extracurricular activities to increase awareness and cultivate essential skills among students".
He added: “However, the scope and quality of these projects have been constrained. I am certain that this project, funded by the British Embassy and carried out in cooperation with Chevening Scholars, will be an important and organised step toward creating an inclusive and welcoming learning environment for all of our students."
25 core team members from three grade levels presented their proposals to the Ambassador, as well as leaders from Nghe An’s Provincial Department of Education and Training and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Their plan outlines specific and practical steps to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment among 750 students through awareness-raising activities, cultural recognition campaigns, broadcasts, and in-depth group discussions in each class. Through these activities, the core team aims to inspire students to collaborate in building a safe, inclusive, and equitable educational environment for all, regardless of gender, religion, nationality, health condition, or social background. Baseline and end-line surveys are included to monitor the programme's effectiveness accurately.
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| Students presenting their communications initiative on diversity, equity, and inclusion at school. (Photo: British Embassy in Vietnam) |
British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew expressed surprise at the students' dedication and enthusiasm: "Listening to their perspectives and initiatives to create an enabling learning environment, where they can proactively and confidently participate in enhancing the quality of education, has left me very optimistic about the future of Vietnam's youth. These students represent a generation full of passion, ambition, and aspirations to contribute to building a society that leaves no one behind—a vision central to both Vietnam and the United Kingdom."
More than 90% of the students at Nghe An Provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities No. 2 are from 12 economically disadvantaged mountainous areas, including some from Laos. This effort contributes to the Vietnamese Government's goal of creating a safe, healthy, and friendly school environment as highlighted in Decree 80/2017/ND-CP, United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
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| The Ambassador engages with teachers on the role of educators in promoting a healthy, connected, and inclusive learning environment. (Photo: British Embassy in Vietnam) |
Representing the Chevening Alumni group, Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh offered her experience coordinating the project: "I was delighted to listen to students' deep reflections on values, gender identity, and rights. They raised questions about how true equality can be reached, how they may avoid feeling ashamed of being 'different,' how their ethnic cultures can be free of discrimination, and how to rise beyond stereotypes. This demonstrates how much they value fair treatment and being accepted for who they are. I believe that big change starts with modest steps, and with the help of the school's administration, these children will soon find solutions for themselves."
Following today's presentation, the core team of 25 students will continue to work with the Chevening Scholars and project volunteers to carry out communication activities to raise awareness about Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Schools and conduct mid-term/ final evaluations to assess the initiative's impact.
| Nghe An Provincial Ethnic Boarding High School No. 2 serves a student population in which over 90% are ethnic minorities from 12 remote mountainous districts and towns with challenging socio-economic conditions in the province. Notably, since the 2023-2024 academic year, the school has been tasked by the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Education and Training with training Laotian students. For many consecutive years, it has been one of the few schools in the province with students honoured in recognition ceremonies organized by the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee. The school consistently ranks among the top three in the province for high school graduation exam results. |
