Ms. Lam Hong Lam Thuy, Head of the GeneralEducation Department (Department of Education and Training) said that Ho Chi Minh City has only 39/556 primary education institutions that have not organized 2-session teaching/day. That means the rate of 2-session teaching/day in primary schools in the city is 92.98%. Meanwhile, this figure in secondary and high schools is 93%.

Teaching 2 sessions/day has been one of the goals of Ho Chi Minh City education for many years to achieve the goal of comprehensive education, improve quality, meet the needs of parents and society in managing and educating students as well as enhancing life skills education.

To teach two sessions a day, schools in Ho Chi Minh City have developed educational plans suitable to the conditions of teaching staff, facilities, and teaching equipment to meet the requirements of curriculum and textbook innovation.

Improve the main curriculum, organize subjects according to abilities and talents

According to Mr. Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, in the 2-session/day program, first of all, teaching activities must have a plan that closely follows and improves the main curriculum, organizes subjects according to the abilities and talents of each group of subjects to promote their abilities, ensure the development of students' abilities; at the same time, enhance the content to develop foreign language and computer skills.

Teaching time will not exceed half of the total time of session 2 so that the school has time to organize other educational activities for students such as: Experiential activities, scientific research, STEM education orientation, career guidance, life values, social practice skills, clubs, personal talent development and local social activities.

In terms of formal teaching, schools fully implement the educational program of the Ministry of Education and Training, focusing on innovating teaching methods, enhancing practical activities, and applying knowledge to practice. Organizing tutoring for students who have not achieved in subjects, nurturing excellent students, and ensuring teaching quality.

10th grade students in HCMC 2 (1) 2.jpg
Students in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Hue

In addition, organizing diverse experiential and career guidance activities helps students develop comprehensively and have appropriate career orientation. Increasing reading periods by grade; periods for practicing mathematical thinking skills; English Club and STEM Club - Natural Science according to students' needs and wishes...

How are the 2 sessions/day classes?

General education currently has 3 levels: primary, secondary and high school.

At the primary level, each day there are 7 non-compulsory main periods: 4 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. The timetable is scientifically arranged, ensuring a reasonable ratio between teaching content and educational activities, reasonable allocation of time, time of day and school week, suitable for the psychology of primary school students as well as the mobilization and arrangement of teachers.

In addition to regular classes, primary schools organize other activities such as life skills training and club activities depending on the needs and abilities of students, helping them complete their learning tasks and requirements without causing them to be "overloaded".

For secondary school level, the total number of teaching periods per week is from 37 to 42 periods, including teaching programs and educational activities according to Decision 16/2006 of the Ministry of Education and Training on teaching content and educational activities of 2 sessions/day.

For high school level, the total number of teaching periods is 42-48 periods/week, including teaching programs and educational activities according to Decision 16 of 2006.

Mr. Ha Huu Thach, Principal of Luong The Vinh High School (District 1) said that in the second session of the day, the school enhances students' qualities and abilities through clubs such as academics, English, and STEM. For some lessons, students previously studied consolidation and improvement topics, but now the school guides students according to AI. Students supplement their knowledge of Physics and Chemistry according to ChatGPT, then teachers guide and answer questions for them.

Studying 2 sessions/day: Many places lack classrooms and teachers

At the beginning of each school year, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City proposes other fees, depending on the level of education. These fees do not have a specific ceiling, but schools are allowed to develop their own budgets based on the principle of collecting enough to cover expenses, based on voluntary participation, agreement with parents, and in accordance with local realities. The current fluctuating cost for the second session in Ho Chi Minh City is about 150,000-200,000 VND/student/month.

Regarding the 2-session/day fee, the Department of Education and Training stipulates that schools only use this funding source for teaching and educational activities within the 2-session/day plan.

Currently in Ho Chi Minh City, districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, Phu Nhuan, Can Gio, Nha Be study 2 sessions/day 100%. The leaders of the Department of Education and Training said that in the area, there are still some districts with many secondary schools with higher student numbers than the regulations of the school charter, the rate of students studying 2 sessions/day is low; the conditions of playgrounds, training grounds, libraries only ensure standards, not creating conditions to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The increase in the number of students every year leads to the requirement to increase classrooms, teachers, staff but it is difficult to increase the payroll.

The Department of Education and Training assessed that with 2 sessions/day teaching, students met the requirements and set goals, with quite high results. Teaching 2 sessions/day has contributed to improving the quality of education, developing according to qualities and abilities based on a diverse educational environment.

The 2-session/day school program helps parents feel secure, students have a healthy environment to develop, have more time to work in groups, participate in collective activities, experience and develop personal abilities. Students have more opportunities to participate in educational activities, practice life skills, and develop personal abilities.

However, the Department also acknowledged some limitations such as difficulties in physical facilities, many places lack classrooms and functional rooms that need more investment; lack of teachers, especially teachers of Music, Fine Arts, Physical Education, Foreign Languages, Information Technology, etc.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/93-truong-o-tphcm-hoc-2-buoi-ngay-hoc-sinh-duoc-day-gi-o-truong-2399996.html