Climate Resilient Education Landscape Study in Vietnam

Vietnam, one of the most climate-vulnerable countries globally, faces significant educational challenges due to rising sea levels, typhoons, droughts, and flooding. These impacts disrupt learning, damage infrastructure, and force school closures, particularly in regions like the Mekong Delta. The Climate Resilient Education (CRE) Landscape Study, funded by Save the Children International, evaluates how Vietnam’s education system can adapt to these climate challenges. It examines the integration of CRE into national policies, curricula, teaching practices, and stakeholder engagement while addressing inclusivity and gender sensitivity. The study also assesses the contributions of NGO-led initiatives to inform strategies for enhancing educational resilience.

Key findings reveal that while the General Education Curriculum includes foundational CRE content, it lacks practical skills such as disaster preparedness and local adaptation strategies. Teachers employ creative methods to deliver climate education, but their efforts are hindered by a lack of standardised guidelines and training. Inclusivity for ethnic minorities and students with disabilities is inconsistent, and gender-sensitive approaches remain limited. Successful NGO-led initiatives, like the Plastic-Free Schools Campaign, demonstrate potential but lack scalability and integration into formal systems.

The study proposes actionable recommendations for stakeholders. Policymakers are urged to develop a national CRE action plan and foster partnerships among government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. Capacity-building initiatives for teachers, expansion of experiential learning opportunities, and enhanced stakeholder coordination are critical for effective implementation. Donors are encouraged to fund interventions addressing systemic gaps and support the development of localised teaching materials.

This research provides a roadmap to build a resilient education system, empowering children and youth to take active roles in climate adaptation and sustainability efforts. Despite methodological limitations, such as accessibility challenges in remote areas, the findings offer robust evidence for policymakers, educators, and NGOs to collaborate in addressing climate impacts through education.

Keywords: Climate resilience, education, Vietnam, disaster preparedness, curriculum integration, inclusivity, gender sensitivity, sustainability.