The Ministry of Education and Training has not yet required teaching 2 sessions/day from grade 6 to grade 12.

Before the information that middle and high school students will have to study 2 sessions/day is causing a stir in public opinion, Mr. Thai Van Tai, Director of the Department of GeneralEducation (Ministry of Education and Training), had a discussion to clarify this issue.

Mr. Thai Van Tai affirmed that the Ministry of Education and Training encourages but does not yet require teaching 2 sessions/day at junior high and high school levels.

PHOTO: HIEP TRAN

According to Mr. Tai, the government currently invests in facilities for classrooms and teachers that are adequate to the standards. Schools are places where students study, meeting the curriculum and the needs of learners.

Meeting the program is a task, while meeting the needs of learners is a reality of life.

For example, learning about digital competencies to become digital citizens. Learning to provide career guidance, choosing a suitable career in the context of a daily progressive social environment to become a human resource of the world . Must understand one's own abilities and career orientation.

The second example that Mr. Tai mentioned is some knowledge that is required by real life that cannot be met in the program.

"Therefore, secondary and high schools must aim to have 2nd-session classes when there are enough facilities, and that is one of the legitimate needs of learners, aiming to ensure fairness in access to education," said Mr. Tai.

However, Mr. Tai affirmed that the Ministry of Education and Training does not require it. The "aiming" mentioned above means that wherever there are conditions, the facilities invested by the state must be effectively exploited to their full potential. Schools with sufficient facilities should be open all day so that students can study on their own, avoiding the situation where the school closes in the afternoon and students have to run around looking for a place to study extra.

"To aim for and to require are two different things," Director Thai Van Tai affirmed, emphasizing that the Ministry encourages qualified schools to organize second-session teaching.

Session 2 is not for extra classes.

Mr. Tai also pointed out that instead of studying 5 periods until 12 o'clock, or even 12:30, now there are 2 sessions for students to study with less pressure. And students can study more according to their needs, such as learning English with foreigners, digital skills, AI... and content based on real life.

Regarding the Ministry's survey, Mr. Tai said that most localities are interested in investing in infrastructure. The Politburo is determined to recruit enough teachers according to the quota, so the percentage of middle and high schools qualified to teach 2 sessions/day is quite high.

However, schools are struggling to clearly define the content of the second session.

"Therefore, the Ministry will soon issue a guiding document to clarify the content of the second session, not extra teaching and learning, but teaching additional knowledge, skills, and content to meet the development trends of society that students need," said Mr. Tai.

Regarding tuition fees when teaching 2 sessions/day, Mr. Tai said that tuition fees are managed according to Decree 24/2021 of the Government and the Provincial People's Council will determine the content and collection level in the area.

There is free content and there is paid content. For example, some localities with resources will determine that their students must be equipped with this content and it will be free, then the budget will ensure according to Decree 24 on management of educational activities in schools. The Provincial People's Council will decide on this.

According to current regulations, especially the 2018 General Education Program, teaching 2 sessions/day is only mandatory at primary level; at secondary and high school levels, the program is designed to teach 1 session/day.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-gd-dt-chua-bat-buoc-day-2-buoi-ngay-tu-lop-6-den-lop-12-185250405123901396.htm