When students become teachers: the journey of spreading free programming knowledge

Passion for programming and the desire to spread knowledge

In March 2025, while searching for a meaningful extracurricular activity, Gia Bao stumbled upon the KAV (Khan Academy Vietnam) open class project. With three years of experience volunteering at the educational organisation Steam For Vietnam, he saw this as a chance to both hone his skills and contribute to spreading technological knowledge.

Gia Bao aims to spread free programming classes to many students nationwide.

“I want to prove that programming is not difficult and has many practical applications. More importantly, I want to create an open classroom where students can interact, learn from each other, and develop a love for computer science,” Bao shared.

Both parents and students clearly feel this spirit. Mr. Nguyen Chung, whose children Duy Anh and Duy Van are in grades 2 and 3 in Nghệ An, shared: “Children in rural areas have fewer opportunities to access these classes. We are grateful to the KAV team for providing a free learning platform that suits parents' economic conditions and fulfils the children's learning desires. We appreciate the persistent efforts of those teaching these classes.”

Overcoming pressure to grow

Gia Bao's first class ran from March to May 2025, spanning nine sessions. The number of participating students was unexpectedly large, with some sessions having over 500 attendees. Without a teaching assistant and coinciding with final exams, the pressure made him consider quitting multiple times. However, with encouragement from the KAV team, support from parents, and especially the eager spirit of the students, Gia Bảo gradually overcame the challenges. He learned to manage the class, improve teaching and communication skills, and coordinate online courses more effectively.

Minh Hieu, a 5th-grade pupil in Tuyen Quang, shared after the course: “I have grasped the basic knowledge of Python to continue self-learning on Khan Academy. Children in rural areas rarely have the chance to join such classes, and I hope KAV will promote this more widely so that more students can learn.” Such feedback has motivated Gia Bao to to continue his commitment.

A teaching session of Gia Bảo at the KAV Open Class with students.

These skills gave him the confidence to participate in the international code in place program organised by Stanford University (USA) and to directly teach children at the SOS Children's Village in Viet Tri, Phu Tho, in July 2025. By the second programming class (held from August 2025), Gia Bao had the opportunity to collaborate with an experienced university lecturer, which helped stabilize the class quality, and many students completed the final assignments impressively.

From KAV open class to larger projects

Reflecting on the short but rich journey, Gia Bao sees it as a solid foundation to pursue high-quality, free educational projects aimed at disadvantaged students with limited access to paid educational services. For him, the KAV Open Class is not just a teaching platform but the beginning of a long journey: bringing technology closer to all students and building an open, long-lasting learning community.

“The experience at KAV has given me a solid foundation to pursue community educational projects. If more open classes like this are available, many students nationwide will see new paths for their future.” Gia Bao shared.

Gia Bao is participating in the International Code in Place program at Stanford University (USA).

Gia Bao's story demonstrates the power of sharing knowledge. A 12th-grade student, with passion and responsibility, has made a positive change for hundreds of students across various regions, especially in remote areas. His story also highlights the great potential when students learn and become knowledge disseminators. From an online class, the desire to share has become a journey of sowing seeds of knowledge and building a confident, creative, and lifelong learning young generation.

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