The "happy school" legacy at Ban Lau Primary School after 3 years

27/02/2026

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“After applying the knowledge from training sessions into teaching and student management, gender discrimination among students has ceased; especially, ethnic discrimination has also gradually disappeared. The children are more sociable, learning and living together in a joyful atmosphere. Notably, some students have proactively reminded their peers to do good deeds together.”

Those were the sharings of Mr. Doan Van Chu - Principal of Ban Lau Primary School (Ban Lau commune, Lao Cai province) as he looked back on the transformation of his students. This change took place after the school applied knowledge from training sessions on gender sensitivity and positive discipline into their educational and management work.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, when For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) launched the first year of the Happy school project in Son La and Lao Cai, Ban Lau Primary School was selected as one of the pilot schools. Here, alongside constructing and upgrading school facilities, the project implemented: 03 training courses for teachers on gender sensitivity in teaching, school counseling and positive discipline; 04 communication and training sessions for students on gender equality, water and sanitation hygiene and wall-newspaper communication skills.

3 years have passed and Ban Lau Primary School has gradually taken on a new look and a new spirit, a place where every student, regardless of gender or ethnicity, is respected and given opportunities to thrive in a safe and positive environment.

According to Mr. Chu, to ensure the training knowledge went beyond theory, the school proactively organized themed festivals for students. These included mixed-gender cooking competitions, gender-neutral team games and storytelling contests about gender equality with active participation from both boys and girls.

Simultaneously, training content was integrated into each formal lesson. Teachers proactively selected texts featuring diverse gender roles in positive ways, where both boys and girls go to school, share housework and participate in community activities.

From the project's training and communication sessions on gender equality, gender sensitivity and positive discipline, changes began to form naturally in school life. In that transformation, "happy school" is no longer just a concept; it has become a place where every child is respected, encouraged and given the chance to grow up with love, responsibility and self-belief.