Students choose subjects, schools assign classes

GD&TĐ - Students choose a subject combination, then the school assigns classes is an option that many high schools in Ho Chi Minh City implement when designing elective subjects for 10th grade students.

This method helps students choose their strong subjects, thereby making learning more effective.

Proactively choose your favorite subjects

The 2018 General Education Program at the high school level stipulates 8 compulsory subjects, including: Literature, Mathematics, Foreign Language 1, History, Physical Education, National Defense and Security Education, Experiential Activities - Career Guidance, Local Education. In addition, students choose 4 elective subjects from the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Information Technology, Technology, Geography, Economic and Legal Education, Music, Fine Arts.

In Ho Chi Minh City, for the past 3 years, high schools have organized for students to register for elective subjects when entering grade 10 in two ways: The school builds a pre-made combination for students to choose from or allows students to proactively choose suitable subjects.

For example, Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (Cho Quan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) has implemented the “running class” model for the past 3 years. Accordingly, in addition to compulsory subjects, students can choose 4 subjects and 3 specialized topics. Based on the students’ subject choices, the school arranges the timetable in the following direction: In the morning, students study compulsory subjects and specialized subjects in traditional classes, and in the afternoon, they switch to studying with students from other classes in elective subjects. Each student has their own timetable.

Ms. Pham Thi Be Hien - Principal of the school, said that in the upcoming school year 2025 - 2026, the school will continue to implement this model. Although it is difficult, the model meets the practical needs of students, helping them to study according to their abilities and strengths.

At Nguyen Tat Thanh High School (Binh Phu, Ho Chi Minh City), Mr. Tran Quang Vu - Vice Principal of the school said that from the 2025 - 2026 school year, students will be advised and guided to proactively choose 4 favorite subjects, have conditions to promote their abilities, passions and be suitable for career orientation as well as university admission.

“With this organization, each student will study according to two timetables: fixed classes with compulsory subjects and flexible classes with elective subjects. This model really creates conditions for students to develop their personal capacity to the fullest,” Mr. Vu shared.

At Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School (Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City), the school will implement the 1+3 plan in the 2025-2026 school year. According to Ms. Tran Thi Hong Thuy - Principal of the school, out of the 4 elective subjects, the school will fix 1 subject: Information Technology.

Students have the right to choose the remaining 3 subjects out of 8 elective subjects, including: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Economic and Legal Education , Technology, Fine Arts, Music. Choosing a hard IT subject is to equip students with technology and IT skills to adapt to the digital age.

Nguyen Tat Thanh High School advises parents and students on choosing subject combinations for grade 10. Photo: MA

Efforts to implement

When implementing the 2018 General Education Program at the high school level, the most ideal solution is for students to choose 4 subjects out of a total of 9 subjects, according to their interests, strengths, abilities and career orientation. However, allowing students to freely choose each subject is a big challenge for high schools, especially in the context that many schools still lack facilities, classrooms, teachers, etc.

Mr. Tran Quang Vu said that in order for students to have full freedom to choose 4 elective subjects in the combination, and then design a running class, the school needs to carefully prepare the teachers' mindset, so that they clearly understand the nature of the 2018 General Education Program, which is to create the most favorable conditions for students to choose the right subjects according to their career orientation.

Teachers must accept that they may not be chosen by students and must take on other tasks. In addition, the design of the timetable must be flexible, avoiding students having to “run” too many classes, subjects, and sessions in a week. Student management in this model must be calculated and clearly implemented.

“Running classes is the most optimal solution when implementing the 2018 General Education Program for high schools. The difficulty in terms of facilities can be overcome if the school knows how to ‘pull’, but the more difficult thing is the mentality of the team. This approach can easily lead to a local surplus of teachers in some subjects that few students choose. Teachers need to identify this as an inevitable factor to work with the school towards the goal of providing the best career orientation for students,” said Mr. Vu.

Similarly, Mr. Ngo Hung Cuong - Vice Principal of Tran Khai Nguyen High School (An Dong, Ho Chi Minh City) said that if pre-built subject combination classes for students to choose from, the school would be more proactive in arranging staff and facilities. However, students would have limited choices. On the contrary, if students were allowed to choose and the school arranged classes according to their wishes, they would face difficulties in terms of staff and facilities.

“Of course, when implementing the 2+2 plan, the school has reconciled the wishes of students with actual conditions. However, the timetable of the 'running class' in the selected subjects needs to be carefully calculated to suit the study time of students, teachers and classroom conditions.

In my opinion, to help high schools organize their elective subjects well and fully meet students' wishes, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City can consider the option of sharing teachers among schools in the cluster. Schools with surplus teachers will share with schools with shortages and vice versa," Mr. Cuong suggested.

Ms. Pham Thi Be Hien - Principal of Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted emphasized: "The fact that students are able to choose their favorite subjects helps them develop their personal abilities to the fullest. Students are able to choose subjects that suit their abilities, interests and career orientation, so their learning spirit is better, more enthusiastic and excited. Teachers are also more interested in teaching students who love their subjects."

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/hoc-sinh-chon-mon-nha-truong-xep-lop-post744193.html