That is the opinion of many experts, managers, and also the thoughts of many parents of students, in the context of the endless debate about the joint and voluntary subjects in the timetable when applying the 2018 General Education Program.
CONSISTENT UNDERSTANDING OF PROGRAMS FROM INDUSTRY COMMANDER?
The principal of a primary school in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, said she liked the 2018 General Education Program because of its humanity, flexibility, and “openness” when applied in different localities. She said that in order for the program to operate as experts intended, it needs a roadmap and time.
Students in STEM activities at elementary school, a cross-curricular subject
This principal acknowledged the recent public uproar about the 2018 General Education Program due to “a lack of necessary propaganda about the program, a lack of consistency about the program from the industry commander”. “We need a clear roadmap, because this is a national program, we need to set goals, after 5 years, after 10 years, what goals will be achieved, what shortcomings still exist. What is wrong needs to be frankly acknowledged, apologized for and corrected”, this principal frankly stated.
THE IDEA IS THAT STUDENTS BENEFIT, NOT PAY FEES
Talking to Thanh Nien reporter, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, a consultant on building general education programs for non-public schools in Vietnam, frankly said that for the 2018 General Education Program, we must admit that our goal is high, including a comprehensive program. However, we must consider the actual resources in Vietnam's current public education system. At the same time, we cannot compare the current situation in Vietnam with developed countries with large financial resources in their public education systems. Resources here are finance and human resources, teachers.
“When we implement supplementary activities in localities on capacity, foreign languages, information technology, skills, etc. for students, in principle, if this is the desire of the 2018 General Education Program, these supplementary activities must be included in the school's education program that students can benefit from without having to pay additional fees. That is an ideal condition. However, the current reality is clearly that both the state budget and human resources are clearly not enough. The qualifications of English teachers, information technology teachers, and the capacity to carry out skills review activities, talents, etc. to supplement students in the public system in localities are not met. That is why schools must cooperate with external units,” Dr. Huyen analyzed.
The problem is how to organize these supplementary activities without causing conflicts and frustration among parents. Dr. Huyen suggests:
First, the school's resources must be considered. If it is not possible to provide enough supplementary activities, it should not be implemented. Second, in case of implementation, it must have the consent of all students, or a large enough number of parents. The school must be able to arrange alternative educational activities for students who do not participate, if these activities are within the time they study during the day. Ideally, supplementary subjects will take place at the end of the day, and if students do not participate, their parents can pick them up early.
Notably, Dr. Huyen emphasized: “If the school organizes supplementary activities, school programs interspersed in the student's school schedule, if parents do not register their children because they do not have the need or financial capacity, the school must be responsible for arranging purposeful educational activities, so that parents can choose. I emphasize here that educational activities are purposeful, not letting students sit around, sit in the council room or go to the library to read books without any further guidance, this is unreasonable.”
Displaying students' products after math and science lessons in English - a linked subject in the school
EACH SCHOOL'S CHOICE
So is the 2018 General Education Program on the right track or when applied in practice, it is still "distorted", "different in each place" due to lack of facilities, and is inserted into supplementary programs? Dr. Tran Thi Quynh Nga, senior lecturer, Faculty of Primary Education, Hue University of Education, said: "Any educational program or strategy requires conditions in terms of facilities and human resources. The 2018 General Education Program is built, first of all, on the perspective of inheriting the achievements that have been achieved, with the basic available conditions. In the context that the Ministry of Education and Training is promoting digital transformation in education and diversifying educational models, such as experiential education, applying learning through play, applying STEM, STEAM to teaching subjects... it is necessary to improve, equip facilities, teaching equipment, and professionally train skills for the team of managers and teachers".
“From a professional perspective, we do not discuss some issues related to the “joint activities” that are “added” to the students’ timetables. However, I think that it is the choice of the schools, and also an effort to diversify the teaching and education models. If anything, the problem lies in the planning, organizational skills, and the level of suitability of skill-training activities to the actual conditions and needs and interests of the students. If the right strategies, plans, and goals are fully conveyed to the parents of the students, and are clearly and transparently explained, the schools will certainly have a high level of consensus from the parents,” Dr. Nga frankly said (to be continued).
Parents want transparency
Mr. Viet Duc (a parent of a student, residing in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City) shared: “We are willing to pay more money so that our children can learn useful subjects. This also helps our children have a safe environment when parents cannot pick them up from school early. What I need is transparency in program information and the effectiveness of supplementary subjects. I think public schools can absolutely organize “Open Days”, activities similar to festivals with booths so that all parents can participate and ask and answer questions with teachers about the subjects and activities that parents can register for their children.”
Regulations on building a "school program" timetable
A leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training said that according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, when implementing the 2018 General Education Program at the primary level, 100% of students will study 2 sessions/day to practice and develop their qualities and abilities according to the goals set out in the program. In addition to fully implementing the subjects and educational activities prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, schools are allowed to design educational content and activities in the school program to best support the national education program as well as to develop students' qualities and abilities according to the goals set out in the 2018 General Education Program, while improving the quality of education and comprehensive education of students.
The primary school curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year in Ho Chi Minh City includes: foreign language teaching (enhanced foreign language, teaching communication with foreigners; teaching foreign languages through math and science); STEM education; life skills training and other types of extracurricular educational activities; organizing enhanced computer teaching activities according to international standards and digital citizenship skills education.
The school program will be designed with different characteristics, suitable for the characteristics of the school. Schools are proactive in building timetables, can include educational content of the school program in the morning or afternoon, must ensure the regulations on the number of periods/day, not overloading students and teachers.
When developing a plan to organize the school program, the principal must fully inform and publicize it to parents right from the beginning of the school year so that parents understand and agree.
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