The Việt Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) is offering free e-learning to schools in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS.Photo Minh Quyết

HCM CITY— Many software companies have provided free e-learning software for students to learn online while schools remain closed at least until month-end due to the new coronavirus fears.

The HCM City Department of Education and Training and Smart School Joint Stock Company have provided many parents with software to enable their children to study at home.

Through a free account, they can access online lessons in history, geography and other subjects, which have many videos and images uploaded by teachers.    

The software can be used for free until schools reopen after four weeks of closure due to the ongoing public health emergency caused by COVID-19.

FPT Corporation provides free e-learning on its VioEdu system at https://vio.edu.vn/ for students throughout the country. The system has recorded nearly 27,000 users in recent weeks who accessed it 70,000 times.

The company is training primary schools in Hà Nội to upload lectures and tests. The VioEdu system has more than 500 videos and exercises for students. The video and test contents are based on the Ministry of Education and Training’s programme.

The Việt Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group is offering free e-learning for schools in Hà Nội, and will provide free accounts until July.

Education experts warned that while e-learning at high schools is set to become a popular trend, but there is no process or regulations for assessment of content compiled by software companies.

Dr Nguyễn Quốc Chính, head of the Centre for Educational Testing and Quality Assessment at the Việt Nam National University - HCM City, said a set of criteria for assessment of such products and services should be established.

Schools should choose software with good images and language, he said.

Trần Hoàng Cẩm Tú, head of Nguyễn Tất Thành University’s E-learning Institute, told Người Lao Động (The Labourer) newspaper that universities have a council to assess e-learning software though not for all subjects.

But many high schools do not have such a council, and as a result content is not assessed. — VNS