Organizing 2 sessions/day in middle school and high school: Must be suitable for school conditions and students' wishes

Before the news that middle and high schools will teach 2 sessions/day as is currently being applied in primary schools, many students and parents are very concerned about the reasonableness of this policy, even expressing concern that this will turn into extra teaching and learning, deviating from the educational goals.

"To organize teaching 2 sessions/day well, there must be at least 3 conditions: facilities, enough teachers and a program suitable for the psychology of the age group", Permanent Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong clarified the contents surrounding the organization of teaching 2 sessions/day at secondary and high school levels at the regular Government press conference in March held on the afternoon of April 6.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that teaching two sessions a day is not new in education. In many countries around the world, when conditions are right, organizing two sessions a day brings positive results. However, to organize two sessions a day well, three factors must be met.

Firstly, there must be sufficient facilities, one classroom per class and sufficient conditions for boarding students to eat and rest at school. There must be enough playgrounds, practice grounds, physical education activities and other skills. Secondly, there must be enough teachers. Thirdly, there must be a teaching program and enough activities organized in 2 sessions, suitable for the psychology and age of the students.

In Vietnam, primary schools have done a good job of organizing 2 sessions per day. Since 2010, the Ministry of Education and Training has issued a document guiding the organization of 2 sessions per day for high school and middle school students, with the direction that it is encouraged where conditions permit. The 2018 general education program also clearly states that primary schools teach 2 sessions per day, while middle school and high school students are encouraged to study 2 sessions per day where conditions permit.

The requirement to study 2 sessions/day in all secondary and high schools is not appropriate because not all places have the conditions to meet the needs of students.

"The goal of teaching 2 sessions/day is first of all to ensure the organization of the general education program, at the same time reduce pressure on students, organize teaching and learning as well as other educational activities in a systematic manner, and form students' qualities, abilities and skills for comprehensive development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness and aesthetics..." - said the Deputy Minister.

Currently, teaching 2 sessions/day in primary schools reaches a rate of nearly 100%. In secondary and high schools, the number of schools and classes teaching 2 sessions/day has increased significantly compared to 10 years ago. Surveys show that places that organize teaching 2 sessions/day well have better overall education quality...

However, according to Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong, there are some shortcomings in organizing the implementation of teaching 2 sessions/day, such as many places understand that the 2nd session still mainly teaches knowledge, not skills or other content, which creates pressure on students.

Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Training is reviewing and re-evaluating this activity, from which it will have general national guidelines to implement at each level of education.

"The viewpoint is to improve the quality of the curriculum; reduce learning pressure for students; ensure educational goals at all levels; students are able to develop comprehensive qualities and abilities, not only general knowledge but also physical development, spirit, sports, access to technology, foreign languages, information technology... suitable for students' psychology and age" - the Deputy Minister emphasized.

In particular, the second session must be voluntary for students and parents. Middle and high school students have different needs and are beginning to form career orientations. Some want to gain more knowledge about digital transformation, some want to supplement foreign languages... If the school does not organize supplementary support, students can study in suitable places, in accordance with regulations. The Ministry's viewpoint is to create the most favorable conditions for students and parents, reduce financial costs for students' families while still ensuring quality.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong affirmed: "Up to this point, the Ministry of Education and Training has not had a policy requiring secondary and high schools to study 2 sessions a day". According to the survey and assessment, the requirement to study 2 sessions/day in all secondary and high schools is not appropriate because not all places have the minimum conditions to meet the needs of students.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/to-chuc-day-2-buoingay-o-thcs-va-thpt-phai-phu-hop-dieu-kien-truong-lop-va-nguyen-vong-cua-hoc-sinh-post870550.html