Training on crisis communication skills for 350 school leaders

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, principal of Tran Quoc Toan 1 Secondary School, shares her experience in handling media crises - Photo: H.HG

On the afternoon of March 14, the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City organized a training session on press information skills and media crisis handling.

The training session had more than 350 principals, vice principals, union presidents of schools from kindergarten to secondary school, along with managers and specialists from the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City.

At the training session, Dr. Huynh Van Thong, former head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University), emphasized: "Some people say that they are shy and do not want to contact the press, they just want to be left alone to do education. However, we are managers. Therefore, we need to demonstrate professionalism and responsibility.

When a problem arises, it is the responsibility of the unit leader to face the media with a balanced information strategy. Managers cannot remain silent, allowing groundless speculation to spread on social networks."

Dr. Huynh Van Thong - former head of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University), reported at the training session - Photo: H.HG

Mr. Thong pointed out the taboos when heads of educational institutions contact the press and handle media crises: avoiding responsibility, making inconsistent statements, giving arguments without considering the public's emotional aspect; hastily answering without basis and lacking cooperation with the press.

Also at the training session, education managers discussed and shared experiences on how to handle media crises when schools encounter problems, create opportunities to spread the good things of the school, build the school's image to create trust for parents...

Crisis communication handling is a practical need of schools.

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Nguyen Thai Vinh Nguyen, Head of the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City, expressed: In the context of the 4.0 era like today, communication work in general, and handling communication crises in particular, is very important. Especially in the period when the education sector is implementing curriculum and textbook innovation. If communication work is done well, parents will understand better and be willing to accompany the school in educational activities.

"However, recently, I have noticed that some schools in Thu Duc City have not done this job well. Some education managers are afraid to contact the press, leading to many unpleasant incidents.

Based on that reality, the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City organized a training course for school leaders. The goal of the training course is to help teachers gain skills and become more confident when meeting and talking with the press as well as handling media crises (if any) more appropriately," said Mr. Nguyen.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tap-huan-ky-nang-xu-ly-khung-hoang-truyen-thong-cho-350-lanh-dao-truong-hoc-20240314201155535.htm