Having skipped school for a month in the first 10th grade but not being punished by teachers, Minh thought for a long time and then decided to choose to study Pedagogy to teach students to love.
Wearing a T-shirt and sneakers, Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Principal of Hanoi National University of Education, appeared on the field. Kicking the ball into the goal for third-year student Khuat Van Nam to warm up, both teacher and student smiled brightly. Mr. Minh then encouraged the whole team to play with dedication.
"Not many students have a chance to do that. That was probably the moment I cherished the most with the respected teacher of the whole school," Nam shared.
For Pedagogy students, the image of a simple principal patting students on the shoulder in the school yard, or being present in the dormitory on the first evening of the students' enrollment, is all too familiar. As for Mr. Minh, that is his way of teaching students about love - the most important thing for every teacher, and also the thing he has kept in mind since the time he dropped out of school without being punished.
Professor Nguyen Van Minh, Principal of Hanoi National University of Education. Photo: Duong Tam
Teacher Minh is 60 years old this year, from Quang Tri. In 1978, after finishing secondary school, Minh had to take the entrance exam to Dong Ha High School, 24 km away from home because there was no closer school. Difficulties surrounded him, hunger, lack of clothes, and lack of books were common. Because his house was far away and he was in difficult circumstances, Minh missed a month of school.
Alone at home while his friends were all at school, Minh thought "to overcome poverty, one must study" so he decided to go. Returning to school, Minh thought his teachers would not let him study anymore.
In the following weeks, the teachers continuously called on him to come to the board. Sometimes Minh could do a little, sometimes he just stood there like a statue. He was surprised because the teachers did not criticize him but instead tried to guide him to catch up with his friends. Minh was curious, "Why are the teachers so good?"
"That motivated me to take the Pedagogy exam even though I had no concept of loving the profession," Mr. Minh recalled.
Graduated from Hue University of Education in 1985, Mr. Minh went to the Central Highlands to teach Physics at the College of Education. His students were Ede, Xe Dang, Mo Nong, and even students from the North who followed their families to work in the new economy.
There, life was difficult, colleagues struggled with students. Teacher Minh realized that it was only out of love that they accepted everything. He told himself that he would treat his students the same way.
After that, Mr. Minh was sent to study for a master's degree and then did a PhD. When he returned to school after spending enough time in the mountainous area as required, the school had excess staff, so Mr. Minh was transferred to another job. He decided to go to the capital and teach at the Physics Department of Hanoi National University of Education from 1996.
Two years later, Mr. Minh was sent on a short-term internship in France, and then regularly interned and worked abroad. Over the course of nearly 10 years, he set foot in India, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, and then the United States.
"I always say that I work for hire using my expertise to earn a living. There were times when I wondered whether I should return home because I was used to the working environment abroad," Mr. Minh recalled.
At that time, his "farmer mother" said, "Society has raised you this much, if you leave, what will the neighbors think?". His mother's words reminded him of the love and care that made him decide to stay in Vietnam and continue teaching.
As a lecturer at a leading Pedagogical University, Mr. Minh believes that in many ways, he must cultivate love for his students, then come to expertise. For him, hating each other is simple and can happen instantly, but building love and human values is a long journey, requiring perseverance.
"If they can cultivate love and a desire to stick with the profession, students will find ways to improve their expertise, based on the foundation they learn at school," he said.
Mr. Minh took a photo with students at the June graduation ceremony. Photo: Minh Hang
In 2012, Mr. Minh was appointed principal. At that time, semi-public high schools had to be converted to private or public schools. Nguyen Tat Thanh High School - a practice school of Hanoi National University of Education was among them.
That same year, a 12th grade student of the school suffered from heart disease and died after running during a PE class. Attending the student's funeral, the image of the tall, healthy young man haunted the teacher for several months. The question "Why did an innocent child have to die in such a painful way?" tormented the head of the Pedagogical School.
From that concern, when writing the project to convert Nguyen Tat Thanh school into a self-financed public school - a very new model in Vietnam at that time, Mr. Minh made the first request to his colleagues that students should not be required to study Physical Education or Music equally. Students were allowed to choose content based on their physical strength and interests.
The view of developing students' abilities in a personalized way was "very strange" at that time. Later, the school also stipulated that students had the right to study ahead and organize gifted clubs. The Nguyen Tat Thanh school model was supported by the Ministry and the Hanoi Department of Education and Training. Today, the school has become a place for students to practice and an address trusted by students and parents.
For students of Hanoi National University of Education, Mr. Minh and his teachers focus on building a training program suitable for the times, consolidating high-quality classes - where the best students gather; opening English-taught courses for natural sciences such as Mathematics Pedagogy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Information Technology.
Students in these classes are allowed to study ahead, with no limit on the number of credits in a year. Those with research ability are given special policies such as exemption from class time if they have to focus on scientific publications or reports at international conferences. Excellent students are allowed to study topics equivalent to postgraduate degrees to save time when they go to higher education.
As a lecturer, Mr. Minh's biggest concern is the lecturer's income. As a school that is partly self-sufficient in regular expenses, students are subsidized for tuition fees, and the main source of income is from postgraduate training and external training, the school always gives the highest proportion to human resources.
Mr. Minh believes that "even if we have to make do, we will not let the welfare of lecturers decrease". During his two terms as principal, the welfare of staff and lecturers of the Pedagogical University increased every year. The additional income is divided according to ability, creating equality, not average.
Hanoi National University of Education also established funds to support scientific research; awards for lecturers who teach and research well to promote their working spirit.
Mr. Minh helps students warm up in the school's soccer tournament at the end of October. Video: Khuat Van Nam
Looking back on 10 years as principal, Mr. Minh thinks that what he has done is not too special.
"The development and trust of the Pedagogical University is the result of the efforts of all staff, lecturers and students. What makes me happiest is that students love me," said Mr. Minh, adding that there are months when he receives dozens of emails from students, from concerns about careers to family matters.
At the age of 60, about to finish his two terms as principal, Mr. Minh will return to teach at the Physics Department to continue to be close to students, to see the heart-shaped pieces of paper congratulating November 20 hanging on the door of the room and to see students grow up, bringing love to schools across the country.
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