Recently, the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD–United Way Viet Nam), in collaboration with SCS Cyber Security Joint Stock Company (SCS) and SafeOnline, launched the project “SafeGate School Plus – Protecting Children from harm and risks in the online environment” in Ha Noi, while also initiating activities to co-design safe Internet solutions for schools.
As schools increasingly rely on the Internet as a core part of their infrastructure, students are exposed to potential online dangers even within the school environment. A single click may lead to harmful content, scams, or online harassment, highlighting the need for Internet systems that are designed with safety integrated from the beginning.
The SafeGate School Plus model combines MSD’s experience in digital citizenship education with the SafeGate School technical solution developed by SCS. It follows a Safety-by-Design approach, meaning safety is integrated from the stage of designing school Internet infrastructure rather than addressed only after incidents occur.
The initiative focuses not only on technical solutions but also on nurturing a generation of responsible digital citizens capable of using the Internet safely, healthily, and responsibly.
Through the project, school Internet systems are reinforced with multiple protection layers to help prevent, detect, and respond to online risks, particularly cyberbullying and the online sexual exploitation and abuse of children.
Beyond strengthening Internet protection infrastructure, SafeGate School Plus adopts a new approach by placing students at the centre of the solution design process.
Students, teachers, and parents are invited to participate in co-design workshops, where they can directly experience the SafeGate School Plus system and contribute feedback for its improvement. Discussions focus on the features required for a safe school Internet environment, support mechanisms when students encounter online risks, and the design of chatbots, educational games, and online courses that are friendly and appropriate for different age groups.
Tran Thi Van Anh, Deputy Director of MSD, emphasised that safety must be built into digital transformation from the very beginning.
“SafeGate School Plus not only provides a technical solution but also aims to enhance digital capacity and experience for students, teachers, and parents. The project places children at the centre, ensuring that their voices and experiences are reflected in the development and operation of the system,” she said.
According to Van Anh, the initiative forms part of the “Creative happy schools” programme promoted by MSD, which seeks to build an educational environment that is safe, creative, inclusive, and child-friendly.
The project’s long-term goal is to help shape responsible digital citizens — young people who can use the Internet safely, protect themselves online, and apply technology responsibly.
The project was previously launched in Quang Tri Province and is expected to expand to 35 schools in Lao Cai Province in the coming period. The aim is to gather additional data and feedback from students, teachers, and parents in diverse contexts before the SafeGate School Plus system is rolled out more widely in schools.
