The program, which began in the 2019-2020 school year, allows students to take two days off on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). According to the Lao Cai Provincial Department of Education and Training, the program has contributed to increasing the rate of student attendance, even in mountainous areas. The dropout rate has decreased significantly, from 1.2% in the 2019-2020 school year to 0.8% in the 2023-2024 school year. Along with that, the number of students graduating from secondary schools has also increased, from 12,500 in 2021 to 14,429 in 2024.
According to Mr. Nguyen The Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Lao Cai province, the two-day weekend break helps students have more time to participate in experiential activities, extracurricular activities, and practice life skills, while teachers can rest and focus on improving their skills. Regular classes are held in the afternoon during the week, ensuring that the curriculum is not cut short, teaching quality remains stable, and extra teaching and learning is minimized.
“In the past, when studying all day on Saturday, extra classes at schools were mostly held in the afternoons. However, since the implementation of teaching 5 sessions/week, extra classes at schools have been cut because 1-2 afternoons a week have to be spent on regular classes. The Provincial People's Committee also directed and we agreed to not teach extra classes on holidays, Sundays, during students' summer vacations and some time frames according to regulations to ensure the health of the students,” said Mr. Nguyen The Dung.
After implementation, the program has received consensus from parents and students, and has become a reference model for many other provinces and cities. However, expanding this model to other levels of education, such as high schools and boarding schools in Lao Cai, is still facing difficulties due to a lack of teachers and facilities.
The implementation of the program also faces some challenges. Especially for grade 9 students, the study time needs to be arranged more tightly to complete the program early. The training of excellent students and support for weak students are also limited because of the reduced time. However, the Department of Education and Training of Lao Cai province affirmed that the program does not increase pressure on teachers but on the contrary, helps them balance work and life better, especially for teachers in mountainous areas.
Source: https://vov.vn/xa-hoi/day-hoc-5-ngaytuan-o-lao-cai-giam-bo-hoc-tang-chat-luong-giao-duc-post1128893.vov
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