Learn how to live happily.

As someone who was originally "outsider" to the field of education , she must have faced many difficulties when she started building her own system?

Before entering education in 2009, I worked in tourism logistics. But then my child reached school age, and on a chance occasion, I brought medicine to school because my child was sick, and I realized how much I had neglected my child. I began my career in education with the mindset of a mother who felt she hadn't been able to provide for her child adequately.

At that time, private education was not as readily accepted as it is now. I set the standard that private schools must be different and conducted a survey on the demand for education outside of public education, thereby forming the educational philosophy "Learn to live happily" with a clear vision and goals.

What was your philosophy when you chose the slogan "Learn to live happily"?

That is: Knowing is happiness, doing is happiness, sharing is happiness, knowing contentment is happiness. UNESCO has also made such humanistic observations. I believe that the concept of happiness is not just about satisfaction. It's about being content with what you've accomplished and knowing contentment. Some parents ask me, when their child goes to school, does the school provide happiness by catering to everything? I affirm that it's not like that; it's about training. For example, a "clean," nutritious, and delicious meal requires effort, but it's difficult to please everyone. Therefore, I conduct assessments and surveys to gather feedback from the majority to find the best fit for the children, to balance happiness.

The infrastructure of the Sky-Line education system is highly rated.

And what did she do to put that guiding philosophy into practice?

I want to create conditions that allow Vietnamese children to have equal rights in education, just like international children. This goes beyond just facilities and teachers; it's about making efforts in all aspects. We have strived for comprehensive development, achieving many remarkable accomplishments in various fields: general education in specialized knowledge; physical training and skills development; talent development; experiential activities; social charity work; and collaborative activities with foreigners…

In terms of communication within the school, I have very clear rules regarding greetings: when greeting, students must look each other in the eye to show friendliness. Teachers and students must stop to greet each other, not just walk past. Regarding staffing, I always tell teachers that if a student hasn't greeted them yet, they should greet them first. It's a small thing, but it contributes to shaping good character in the younger generation.

Notably, in the 2021-2022 academic year, Sky-Line was the only educational institution in Central Vietnam to be recognized as a Global Microsoft Model School, certified as a Cambridge International School by the British Education Council (VN258). In addition, we are finalizing an integrated education project based on new educational approaches, which has received high praise. Currently, 100% of our teachers meet the standards for innovative teachers, and we have 100 Microsoft educators and nearly 40 Microsoft innovative education experts.

Sky-Line students are always encouraged to develop their strengths.

It seems she is very interested in "headhunting" for education experts to help the system develop?

I was once invited to speak by Microsoft and asked what the system's strengths were. I replied that the strength lies in its human resources, but the weakness also lies in its human resources. Success or failure depends on people. In Sky-Line education, knowledge is only a small part compared to the many things a teacher needs to perfect, such as: mindset, ethical values, passion and love for the profession, culture related to how to interact with students, emotional balance, etc.

Surely she witnessed and felt happy about the happiness of her students?

The good news is that I've received many thank-you messages from parents whose children have shown immediate improvement in their studies since starting school. Many parents said that when their children come home each day, they chatter excitedly and want to go back to school; after a long break, they miss their class and school.

Initially, I opened the school out of a mother's love for her child. But as my child grew up and left the school, I realized I had many more children. I shared this during a meeting with the students. From then on, instead of greeting me as "teacher," they playfully called me "Mom," saying, "Hello, Mom." It's just a small thing, but it makes me incredibly happy.

Are you concerned that students will have difficulty adapting to a new environment once they leave school?

My wish is that when parents send their children here to study, they should help their children feel happy at all times and maintain balance in all situations. Parents must provide us with a nurturing environment, not an environment that offers everything good and luxurious.

Previously, there were concerns about whether students who attended international schools would be able to cope with the demands of public schools. In fact, there are also concerns outside of these schools about whether students might experience a "culture shock" upon entering the new school environment. We pay close attention to this issue. For example, we have a senior kindergarten program that serves as a buffer to prepare students for first grade, following the curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Furthermore, socio-emotional education will be included in the curriculum starting this year. Learning how to balance negative and positive emotions requires inner strength, not just knowledge. There are lifelong skills that are crucial for teaching students, such as emotional intelligence, resilience, and decision-making abilities.

Sky-Line's modern library system

Elementary school students study in spacious, clean classrooms.

Students unleash their creativity during outdoor activities.

Sky-Line is the first school in Da Nang to commit to ensuring its students will be able to do what they do after graduation. Before I opened the school, some parents asked if our students would get into university. I assured them that they would. To date, 100% of our students have graduated. About 30% of our students go abroad to study. The rest get into top universities in Vietnam. Recently, a student from Laos approached me about studying abroad. She received six university scholarships in the US, including in medicine and pharmacy, but she chose to study diplomacy in Vietnam. I hope that she will return to the school in the future to serve and attract students from other countries in the region.

So what does she do to encourage young people to return to serve the school, their local communities, and their country?

Our responsibility is to prepare children to grow into responsible, loving, independent, and cooperative young adults. We strive to remove geographical barriers, making the system a foreign-run organization operating in Vietnam.

What our children learn at school and what they do in the future, in line with human civilization, is also a contribution to their lives and families. They may study in various places, but with responsibility, love for their nation, and a spirit of integration, they can all contribute and demonstrate their civic responsibility to their homeland.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/thac-si-le-thi-nam-phuong-hoc-de-song-hanh-phuc-185231020141406761.htm