Endline Evaluation: Safe back to school project in Vietnam

The Safe Back to School (SB2S) project, launched in July 2021, aimed to ensure education continuity and enhance school safety for over 7,500 students across 12 primary schools in Quang Binh province, Vietnam. Supported by Save the Children Korea, the project addressed disruptions caused by COVID-19 and natural disasters through innovative learning modalities, strengthened school environments, and advocacy for resilient educational practices.

The endline evaluation reveals significant improvements in student learning outcomes, with the proportion of children achieving reading comprehension rising from 41.4% at baseline to 70.93% at endline. School safety also improved substantially, with 75.5% of students reporting feeling safe in school, up from 29.0% at baseline. Additionally, teacher and student knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) scores increased across key areas such as gender inclusion, hygiene, child protection, and mental health support.

Findings highlight the project’s effectiveness in creating sustainable, scalable educational models. Schools have integrated SB2S interventions into operational plans, and neighboring regions have shown interest in replication. The evaluation underscores the importance of digital literacy, community engagement, and local capacity building in ensuring long-term educational resilience. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders in shaping future educational initiatives.