Students exhausted by homework

Homework, topics, and projects, although considered a measure to help students review, consolidate knowledge, and innovate traditional teaching methods, are putting great pressure on students. The situation of students struggling with studying is happening in most grades and classes in Ho Chi Minh City.

Can't finish homework at midnight

Ms. Ngo Hong, a resident of Thu Duc City, said that her 7th grader often has to wake up at 5 a.m. to finish his homework because he can't finish it at night. "Feeling sorry for my child, I told him to try to finish it at night so he can get enough sleep in the morning, but at night he can't stay awake, he falls asleep while doing his homework. I don't understand the program, he has been to school for 2 sessions but he still hasn't finished his homework by midnight," Ms. Hong said.

LT, a student at a middle school in District 1, said that after only two weeks of 8th grade, she was almost exhausted due to studying 2 sessions at school and having to do a lot of homework at night. "The teacher asked us to do projects and topics. To do a project, we have to go on field trips, film clips, design lessons and then present, and almost every subject has a topic. Many subjects have topics at the same time, from scientific research, STEM products, English experiential activities... Next year in 9th grade, I want to focus on studying 3 subjects to take the 10th grade exam, but I almost don't have time to study anymore" - LT expressed.

Middle school is like that, high school is even more stressful. Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, living in Hoc Mon district, said that her daughter is in grade 12 this year, and has to "run around studying" like... running around. "In addition to 2 sessions at school, every day she has to go to extra classes for math, physics, English, and at night she has to do homework to catch up with the next day's classes. Almost every night she sleeps after midnight, not having much time to sleep or rest" - Ms. Oanh lamented.

According to Mr. Vo Kim Bao, a teacher at Nguyen Du Secondary School (District 1), usually every teacher assigns homework to students, but each teacher will have a different way of assigning homework. If the assignment of homework is not scientific and appropriate, it will create pressure, making students see it as torture. "I often assign homework but give students a week, even 2 weeks to prepare, not assigning by day. Or I can also do homework in class in the form of open questions, students can freely use documents, they do not have to study sample essays and the assessment is also gentle so students do not feel pressured" - Mr. Bao said about his way of assigning homework.

A mini history project was completed in 15 minutes at Le Quy Don High School (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City). Photo: Tuan Quynh

Everything requires a project!

The goal of the 2018 GeneralEducation Program is to reduce the workload for students, teaching in the direction of comprehensive development of capacity and qualities, but the reality is that most students have to... run as fast as their feet. Teacher Nguyen Viet Dang Du, Head of the History Group at Le Quy Don High School (District 3), affirmed that if the old program is compared, the new program has reduced the workload a lot, first of all, reducing the number of subjects. However, many teachers are under pressure to innovate methods, so they require projects for everything.

From the fact that he is a regular organizer of projects for students to practice and experience, according to Mr. Du, for projects and topics that can integrate many subjects, one topic, one product can get points for many subjects, so it will not put pressure on students. The principle when assigning students to do projects is to ensure that they are suitable, the required time to complete is 1-2 weeks for students to prepare. The form of exercises is new, applying many methods, not forcing students to memorize.

According to Mr. Ho Tan Minh, Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, for schools that teach 2 sessions/day from junior high school, according to regulations, homework assignments for students are limited. At the primary level, the 2018 General Education Program is a 2-session/day program, with regulations that do not assign homework to students, all knowledge and exercises are solved in class. Regarding the requirement to do projects in schools, according to Mr. Minh, teachers must assign specific tasks. Mr. Minh noted: "In the school's plan, teachers must have a specific plan according to the professional plan of the professional group. Which project, which topic must be suitable for the students. What to do, how to do it, what tasks students have, what product requirements must be clearly announced".

Mr. Minh also acknowledged that students are under a lot of pressure due to having to attend extra classes. Many parents still have the mentality of having to send their children to extra classes, studying until 5 p.m. at school and then sending them to many other classes, and not coming home until late at night, so they have no time to prepare for the next day.

Teachers also complain of overload.

Not only are students overloaded, many teachers are also complaining about the excessive workload, having to take on additional tasks. "Literature teachers have to take on additional tasks of teaching local education lessons, experiential activities, and flag salute seminars. Furthermore, since the regulation that at least 35% of the lecture volume of teachers is assigned through the online learning system LMS for students to study on their own, teachers are even more overloaded.

"It's not just one subject. In the situation of teacher shortage, each teacher has to do extra work for another subject, even on Saturdays and Sundays. The workload is 135%, not 100% anymore" - a teacher at a school in District 1 said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/giao-duc-khoa-hoc/hoc-sinh-kiet-suc-vi-bai-tap-ve-nha-2023091821310269.htm