Advanced Education Program for Specialized Subjects: A Step to Improve the Quality of Key Education

GD&TĐ - The Ministry of Education and Training announced the draft of the Advanced Education Program for specialized subjects for specialized high schools.

The program, once implemented, will address the long-standing limitation of lacking specific legal regulations defining the content of advanced programs for specialized subjects, thus ensuring uniformity in teaching organization across localities and educational institutions.

Specifically defining the direction for developing advanced education.

Mr. Le Van Luc, Principal of Nguyen Trai Specialized High School ( Hai Phong ), believes that the advanced education program for specialized subjects is extremely necessary. Specialized high schools have the mission of discovering and nurturing students with talent and passion in specialized fields (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Informatics, Literature, Foreign Languages...).

However, for many years, schools have mainly relied on the current general education curriculum, independently developing teaching plans for specialized subjects according to general guidelines; this has led to a lack of uniformity, depth, and synchronization with the requirements for developing advanced education.

The Ministry of Education and Training's development and promulgation of an advanced education program is a timely step, demonstrating its determination to improve the quality of talent training, in line with the spirit of Resolution 29-NQ/TW and the 2019 Education Law, especially in the context of the 2018 General Education Program being implemented comprehensively.

Regarding the draft Advanced Education Program for specialized subjects, Mr. Le Van Luc commented: The Ministry of Education and Training has invested considerable effort, as evidenced by its clear structure, specific objectives, scientific content, and orientation towards developing students' competencies and qualities. The program clarifies the unique characteristics of specialized subjects, demonstrating greater expansion, enhancement, and depth compared to the current general education program; while also orienting towards integrated application, developing research thinking, and fostering innovation.

However, from a practical implementation perspective, Mr. Le Van Luc offered some suggestions. Specifically, he suggested providing detailed guidance on the allocation of time between core knowledge, advanced knowledge, and experiential scientific research activities. He also recommended adding illustrative examples and providing guidance on teaching methods and assessment appropriate for each specialized subject. The Ministry of Education and Training should promptly issue standardized guidance and reference materials to ensure consistency and support teachers in implementation.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Nguyen Minh Chi - Principal of Ben Tre Specialized High School (Vinh Long) - believes that issuing the Advanced Education Program for specialized subjects is a concretization of regulations with legal force, meeting the requirements for identifying and nurturing students with talent and passion for specialized fields, and concretizing the orientation of developing advanced education.

The draft regulations on this matter from the Ministry of Education and Training are clear, specific in purpose, and legally sound; they clearly state the objectives of the advanced program, the required learning outcomes, and the curriculum, specifying the advanced content of the subject, the organization of teaching, and assessment. This creates favorable conditions for teachers to implement the program.

“This program provides specialized schools with a clear and unified legal framework for implementing in-depth subjects, contributing to improving the quality of training for national and international-level gifted students. Schools will have more specific guidance in developing teaching plans, compiling materials, and evaluating specialized students.”

"We are implementing a program to encourage schools to invest in training and improving the professional capacity of their subject teachers. This is the basis for schools to develop specific teaching programs, maximize teaching effectiveness, and improve quality," Mr. Nguyen Minh Chi shared.

Mr. Ngo Thanh Xuan, Principal of Lao Cai Specialized High School (Lao Cai), highly appreciated the modern approach that prioritizes the development of students' abilities in specialized programs, rather than just imparting knowledge. The required qualities and competencies are relatively clearly outlined, especially research skills, problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, and creativity. The continuity and inheritance from the 2018 General Education Program are emphasized, facilitating students to avoid learning disruptions.

Commenting on the draft, Mr. Ngo Thanh Xuan suggested that, regarding the content of knowledge, there needs to be specific guidance on the level of difficulty to avoid schools interpreting it themselves, leading to disparities in quality between localities. He also suggested designing the curriculum around major thematic axes with detailed requirements, making it easier for teachers to organize flexible and creative teaching while remaining within the established standards.

Regarding teaching materials, the draft needs to clarify the direction for using teaching materials: Will there be a nationally standardized textbook or set of teaching materials? If not, it should recommend sources of materials or a minimum framework for teaching materials.

Regarding teacher training: Advanced programs require teachers to have in-depth knowledge and the ability to organize academic activities. Therefore, a parallel plan for professional development of teachers specializing in these subjects is needed, along with appropriate selection and evaluation mechanisms.

INT illustration.

Prepare the conditions to meet the requirements of the new program.

Identifying the challenges in implementation, according to the Principal of Lao Cai Specialized High School, not all specialized schools have enough teachers to meet the requirements for advanced teaching competence. Disparities in facilities and learning materials between schools can hinder synchronized implementation. The transition from the current curriculum to the new advanced curriculum can create pressure for both teachers and students if there is no clear roadmap.

“We are proactively developing specialized programs in line with the Ministry of Education and Training's guidelines, integrating competency-based objectives into the school's educational plan. Simultaneously, we are establishing specialized professional groups, building a bank of learning topics, competency-developing questions, and open educational resources.”

"We need to strengthen links with universities, research institutes, and organize seminars and scientific conferences to improve teachers' qualifications and create an academic environment for students. We should focus on career guidance for students specializing in certain subjects, avoiding unbalanced learning or overload due to the pursuit of academic achievement. At the same time, we hope the Ministry of Education and Training will promptly issue guidance documents and organize training for specialized subject teachers nationwide," Mr. Ngo Thanh Xuan shared.

Similarly, Mr. Le Van Luc pointed out that the difficulties include the limited availability of high-quality human resources to meet the requirements of the new curriculum, especially older teachers; some curriculum content requires modern teaching methods, which take time for teachers to adapt; and the infrastructure and equipment for in-depth teaching are not uniform across localities.

Sharing his proposed solutions, Mr. Le Van Luc stated that the school will proactively review and train its teaching staff through professional development activities at the city and cluster levels, and in collaboration with universities. They will strengthen partnerships, invite experts and university lecturers to provide professional support, and pilot several integrated teaching and scientific research models for students.

Teachers are encouraged to learn foreign languages ​​independently to access materials and exam questions in foreign languages, and to enhance the application of information technology and artificial intelligence in teaching and management. The school will actively guide students on learning methods, especially self-study and research methods. At the same time, the school will request the Department of Education and Training and the City People's Committee to provide support in terms of facilities, equipment, and materials, especially during the initial phase of implementing the new curriculum.

A specialized program is not simply about teaching deep, difficult knowledge, but about creating a genuine academic environment where students are trained in critical thinking, research methods, creativity, and the development of in-depth academic competence. A well-designed program with a competency-oriented approach and flexibility will be a solid foundation for fulfilling that mission. - Mr. Ngo Thanh Xuan

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/chuong-program-gd-nang-cao-cac-mon-chuyen-buoc-chuyen-nang-chat-luong-giao-duc-mui-nhon-post741070.html