60 out of 100 people asked want 'students to start school at 7:30'

A survey on Thanh Nien Online shows that 60% choose the option of middle and high school students starting school at 7:30. Out of 100 people, 60 want to apply this school start time to students.

Last week, an issue that attracted much attention from Thanh Nien Newspaper readers was the school start time for middle and high school students in the new school year 2025 - 2026. The article "Studying 2 sessions/day: Should school start times for middle and high school be delayed?" attracted many opinions and debates.

Students of Trung Vuong High School, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

The vast majority choose to go to school at 7:30.

The article raises the issue that from the 2025-2026 school year, qualified middle and high schools will organize 2 sessions/day, with no more than 7 periods per day. Parents, students and many teachers believe that school start times should be delayed for schools that teach 2 sessions/day, so that students have more time to eat breakfast and rest.

As of 11:00 p.m. on August 22, 2025, 60% of readers chose the option of starting school at 7:30 a.m.; 32% wanted the starting time to be 7:45 a.m. Only 8% wanted high school students to start school at 7:00 a.m.

Survey results on desired school start times on Thanh Nien Online

PHOTO: THUY HANG

'Primary school students should start school at 7:45, middle school and high school students should start school at 7:30'

Readers debated heatedly on the topic of what is a reasonable school start time for students.

Reader Thanh Nguyen stated: "It should be regulated that all levels of education start class at 7:30 in the morning and leave at 10:45. Start class at 1:15 in the afternoon and leave at 4:30 in the evening. My perspective after 15 years of taking and picking up children and grandchildren to school in Ho Chi Minh City."

Reader Khoa Hoc Tran wrote: "There is nothing more absurd than students having to go to school before 7:30 while adults start working after 7:30."

Parent hamaukhanhuk shared: "Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese students all go to school at 8:30 a.m. and are taller than Vietnamese students. It's worth pondering."

In response to this, a Vietroad reader said: "Let's see how hot it is in Korea. In Vietnam, especially in Ho Chi Minh City, at 8:30 the sun starts to pour down. The earlier you study, the cooler it is, the more effective it is...".

Parents take their children to school for the 2025-2026 school year at Trung Vuong High School, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

PHOTO: NGOC DUONG

Responding to the above opinion of Vietroad reader, the account named "Huynh" exchanged: "Who forbids going to school early, just don't go to school early. Going to school early means eating early, but eating early but not enough nutrients, then where is the time to do morning exercises. Don't blame the weather when you only have 4 classes in the morning, you should look at Thailand. In my opinion, going to class at 6:45 and going to school at 7:00 is not scientific, the senses are not fully activated yet."

Reader My Quyen Nguyen shared: "I think it is reasonable for primary school students to start school at 7:45 a.m., and for middle and high school students to start school at 7:30 a.m. to avoid heavy traffic. Next, the government should issue a regulation "Prohibiting karaoke singing in open spaces" to protect students and university students who have a quiet space to study at night, and workers who also need to rest or teach their children to study. If you feel that banning "Karaoke Demon" is too difficult, you should adjust the quiet time from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning, but absolutely cannot let students study quietly until 10 p.m. Because then, what time will they go to bed?"

Poll

What time do you support middle and high school students to go to school?

You can select 1 item. Your vote will be public.

7 hours

7:30

7:45

VoteView results

"New reader" said: "I think the first class in the morning should be at 7:30 so that the children can have breakfast and go to school without having to wake up and eat in a hurry. Leaving at 10:45 is convenient for the children to go home to eat and take a nap to regain their concentration for the afternoon class. In the afternoon, starting class at 1:30 p.m. and leaving at 4:30 p.m. is suitable...".

Account Lam Le said: "The afternoon time slot for middle school and high school students should be pushed back so they can have some time to sleep and rest. Some children do not go to boarding school so they leave at 11:00. When they get home at 11:15, after eating, they worry about going to school because they have to be at school at 1:00 p.m., which is very tiring...".

It is known that in the near future, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City will issue new instructions on school hours for students in the 2025-2026 school year, applicable to each level of education, in accordance with the regulations on teaching 2 sessions/day of the Ministry of Education and Training and the specific conditions of Ho Chi Minh City.

From the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, many schools in Ho Chi Minh City have announced that the first class starts at 7:30 a.m., such as Nguyen Huu Tho High School, Xom Chieu Ward; Minh Duc Secondary School, Cau Ong Lanh Ward; Vo Truong Toan Secondary School, Sai Gon Ward...

For many years, Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City; Tan Chau High School, Tan Chau Ward, An Giang Province... have allowed students to enter school at 7:30.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cu-100-nguoi-duoc-hoi-thi-60-nguoi-muon-7-gio-30-hoc-sinh-vao-hoc-185250822223520894.htm