1. General information
Project title: Measures to Support 5-6-Year-Old Ethnic Minority Children in the Northern Mountainous Region in Preparing for a Successful Transition to Grade 1.
Code: B2024- TNA- 01.
Project leader: Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Ut Sau
Affiliation: Thai Nguyen University
Project duration: January 2024 - December 2025.
2. Objectives
General objectives
Based on the review of theoretical issues and the investigation of the actual support provided to 5–6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for their transition to Grade 1, the study proposed several measures to support these children in becoming ready for Grade 1. The proposed measures aim to contribute to improving the quality of the implementation of the Early Childhood Education Curriculum and the 2018 General Education Curriculum.
Specific objectives
- To establish a theoretical framework for supporting 5-6-year-old children in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1.
- To assess the current situation of support provided to 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region to help them become ready for Grade 1.
- To propose measures to support 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in adapting to new social relationships, learning activities, and daily life in primary school.
3. Novelty and Creativity
- The project approaches the issue of supporting 5-6-year-old children in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1 under the 2018 General Education Curriculum through a regional-based perspective, emphasizing the influence of the environment on the development of preschool children. This represents a new approach in research on supporting 5-6-year-old children to become ready for Grade 1.
- The project successfully developed three sets of research instruments and objectively and accurately analyzed the current situation regarding: (1) the support provided to 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region to prepare them for the transition to Grade 1; (2) the readiness of Hmong and Dao children aged 5–6 to adapt to Grade 1; and (3) the factors influencing the support for 5–6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in becoming ready for Grade 1.
- The measures proposed in the study are innovative and have practical significance. They aim to: (1) develop a procedure for supporting Hmong and Dao children aged 5-6 in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1; (2) design a support program for 5-6-year-old Hmong and Dao children to become ready for Grade 1; (3) strengthen collaboration with parents, primary schools, and social organizations in supporting 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam in preparing for Grade 1; and (4) create an educational environment that supports these children in becoming ready for Grade 1. The synchronized implementation of these measures will enhance the effectiveness of support for 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in adapting to Grade 1.
4. Research findings
- Developed a theoretical foundation for supporting 5–6-year-old children in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1.
- Analyzed the current situation of support provided to 5–6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing them for Grade 1.
- Designed three sets of assessment instruments to examine: 1) The current situation of support provided to 5–6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for Grade 1; 2) The readiness of 5–6-year-old Hmong and Dao children to adapt to Grade 1; 3) The factors influencing the support for 5–6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in becoming ready for Grade 1.
- Analyzed the current situation of support provided to 5–6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for Grade 1; the readiness of Hmong and Dao children aged 5–6 in the Northern mountainous region to adapt to Grade 1; and the factors influencing support for these children in becoming ready for Grade 1.
- Proposed measures to support 5–6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1.
5. Products
5.1. Publication
Publication products: 5
- One article published in a Scopus-indexed journal.
(1). Nguyen Thi Ut Sau, Tran Thi Nhung, Pham Thi Kieu Oanh, Vu Thi Thuy, Le Thi Thuong Thuong, Nguyen Thi Hoa (2025). Analysis of bibliometrics in studying the influence of the environment on preschool children’s psychological development, International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), Vol.14 (4), p.3051-3064, p-ISSN: 2252-8822, e-ISSN: 2620-5440; http://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v14i4.30817.
- One article published in a journal with a DOI index.
(2). Nguyen Thi Ut Sau, Vu Thi Thuy, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Nong Thi Hieu (2025). Factors affecting the support of 5-6-year-old Mong and Dao ethnic minority children in preschools in the mountainous regions of Northern Vietnam to be ready to adapt to Grade 1, International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, Vol.08 (04), p. 2151-2158; ISSN (print): 2644-0679, ISSN (online): 2644-0695; DOI: 10.47191/ijsshr/v8-i4-22, Impact factor- 8.007;
- Three articles published in domestic journals accredited and scored by the National Professorship Council.
(3). Vu Thi Thuy & Nguyen Thi Ut Sau (2025). A study on factors influencing the readiness of 5-6-year-old children to adapt to learning activities in Grade 1. Journal of Education, 25(3), p.15–18.
(4). Nguyen Thi Ut Sau & Duong Thi Nhung (2024). A study on the current situation of supporting 5-6-year-old children in preparing for adaptation to learning activities in Grade 1. Journal of Education, Vol.24(Special Issue No. 11), p.215–219.
(5). Nguyen Thi Ut Sau & Vu Thi Thuy (2025). Readiness of 5-6-year-old Hmong and Dao ethnic minority children in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam to adapt to learning activities in primary school. Vietnam Journal of Psychology, Issue No. 3
5.2. Books and Documents
[1]. Guideline Document: Guidelines for preschool administrators and teachers on supporting 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in preparing to adapt to learning activities in Grade 1.
5.3. Training Products
[1]. One master’s thesis has been supervised in alignment with the research direction of the project. The thesis has been completed in terms of content; however, the student has not yet met the required English proficiency level and therefore has not been eligible for defense before the Evaluation Committee.
- Vu Nhu Quynh. Measures to support 5-6-year-old children in preschools in Thai Nguyen city, Thai Nguyen province, in preparing to adapt to learning activities in Grade 1. Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Ut Sau. Decision No. 1918/QD–ĐHSP dated July 18, 2024, issued by Thai Nguyen University of Education – Thai Nguyen University.
[2]. One doctoral dissertation is currently being supervised in alignment with the project’s research orientation:
Thai Quoc Bao. Organizing Art activities for 5-6-year-old children in preschools based on the STEAM educational approach. Supervisors: Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen and Ha Thi Kim Linh. Decision No. 1650/QD–ĐHSP dated June 29, 2023.
Seminar 1 Title: Review of research on organizing Art activities for 5-6-year-old children in preschools based on the STEAM educational approach.
Seminar 2 Title: Theoretical foundations for organizing Art activities for 5-6-year-old children in preschools based on the STEAM educational approach.
5.4. Application-oriented Products
[1]. A report on the current situation of support for 5-6-year-old Hmong and Dao children in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1.
[2]. A set of proposed measures to support 5-6-year-old Hmong and Dao children in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam in becoming ready for Grade 1.
[3]. A training document for preschool administrators and teachers on supporting 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam in preparing to adapt to Grade 1.
6. Methods of Technology Transfer, Application Sites, and the Impacts and Benefits of the Research Findings
6.1. Methods of Technology Transfer
Contracts between the project’s principal investigator and preschools (particularly those with a high proportion of Hmong and Dao children) in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam.
6.2. Application Sites
Preschools serving ethnic minority children, particularly Hmong and Dao children; Departments of Education and Training in the Northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam.
6.3. Impacts and Benefits of the Research Findings
For the field of Education and Training
The research results of the project contributed to enriching both theoretical and empirical studies on supporting 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1, specifically through:
- developing the theoretical foundations for supporting 5-6-year-old children in becoming ready for Grade 1;
- analyzing the current situation of support provided to 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for Grade 1;
- proposing measures to support 5-6-year-old Hmong and Dao children in the Northern mountainous region in becoming ready for Grade 1.
The research outcomes serve as a practical resource for implementing educational programs for 5-6-year-old children in preschools across the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam, thereby helping them prepare effectively for their transition to Grade 1.
For Related Fields of Science and Technology
The research results of the project contributed an additional in-depth study on supporting 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1.
For Socio-Economic Development
The implementation and scaling-up of measures to support 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in the Northern mountainous region in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1 contributed to improving the quality of early childhood education for this age group, thereby enhancing the overall quality of preschool education in the local area.
For the Host Institution and the Application Units of the Research Findings
The research results of the project provided a foundation for the Departments of Education and Training and preschools in the Northern mountainous region of Vietnam to continue implementing professional development activities for teachers in supporting 5-6-year-old ethnic minority children (Hmong and Dao) in preparing for a successful transition to Grade 1.
The implementation of the project also contributed to enhancing the research capacity in educational science among lecturers at the University of Education – Thai Nguyen University.
