Free tuition for 2 sessions/day: Proposed implementation solutions

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has about 1.7 million students, with an average increase of about 25,000 students per year. The rate of student growth is concentrated in areas with rapid urbanization and high population growth such as Thu Duc City, District 12, Binh Tan District, Go Vap District, Binh Chanh District and Hoc Mon District.

Every year, at the beginning of the new school year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requires schools to ensure the ratio of classrooms/classrooms, facilities, number of students/class, and sufficient minimum teaching equipment according to regulations. At the same time, ensure the ratio of teachers/class, the structure of teachers to teach all subjects,educational activities, and organize 2 sessions/day and boarding according to regulations.

At the inspection and survey of the Ministry of Education and Training on the implementation of digital transcripts, development of digital learning materials and organization of 2-session teaching/day for general education (GDPT) in Ho Chi Minh City in early April, Ms. Lam Hong Lam Thuy, Head of the GDPT Department of the Department of Education and Training, informed that in the 2024-2025 school year, Ho Chi Minh City only has 39/556 primary education institutions that have not organized 2-session teaching/day. The rate of 2-session teaching/day in primary school is 92.98%, secondary school (including junior high school and high school) is 93%.

Although Ho Chi Minh City has a high rate of middle and high school students studying 2 sessions/day, the material conditions in many schools are still difficult and uneven when implementing full 2-session teaching/day.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

SPEED UP SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

Implementing 2 sessions/day, each day arranging no more than 7 lessons; each lesson lasts 35 minutes at primary level is a mandatory regulation, included in the 2018 General Education Program. Therefore, from the 2024 - 2025 school year, there will be no collection from students called "2nd session teaching fee" from grades 1 to 5.

According to the report of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, by the end of the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year, all schools ensured the required content and number of periods when teaching 2 sessions/day. The number of classes ensuring enough time for 2 sessions/day reached 84%. The number of primary school students ensuring enough time for 2 sessions/day reached 81%.

From the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training emphasized the regulation of teaching 2 sessions/day according to the 2018 General Education Program at the entire primary level, so there is no longer the concept of formal and extracurricular activities within the duration of 2 sessions/day.

According to the leader of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, at the primary level, the school program under the 2-session/day teaching plan is complementary, parallel to the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program. The participation of primary school students in the school program is the right of each student, helping them to form and develop their qualities and abilities, equipping them with the most necessary skills in information technology, foreign languages, life skills... to not only meet the learning needs at the primary level but also at the next levels of education.

Localities with 100% of students ensuring enough time for 2 sessions/day include: District 1, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 10, District 11, Binh Thanh District, Tan Binh District, Phu Nhuan District, Hoc Mon District, Nha Be District, Can Gio District.

Ms. Nguyen Dinh Thuy Do Uyen, Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training of District 11, said that one of the important and key points in effectively implementing the school program is to have the consensus of parents. It is best to get parents' opinions on the subjects of the new year's program from the end of this school year to have more time to listen to opinions and prepare.

To continue increasing the rate of primary school students attending two sessions per day and effectively completing the 2018 General Education Program, Ho Chi Minh City is accelerating the construction of schools under the 4,500 classrooms project, consulting on solutions to effectively implement the policy of socializing education and developing the non-public school system in the near future.

For units that do not have the conditions to organize 2 sessions/day, localities have flexibly implemented solutions such as arranging for students to study in the opposite session or on Saturdays.

The rate of studying 2 sessions/day in Ho Chi Minh City is currently 92.98% at primary level, and 93% at secondary level (including junior high school and high school).

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

V FLEXIBLE APPLICATION

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc, Principal of Duong Van Thi High School (Thu Duc City), informed that for more than 5 years, the school has organized 2 sessions/day. At the beginning of each school year, the school conducts a survey to get parents' opinions on organizing 2 sessions/day and almost no parents disagree.

According to Ms. Truc, the second session's program is mainly to guide students on skills to do exercises, learn deeply about the subject and not to teach more than 50% of the cultural periods. "A student with strength in math, in the main course, will learn the subject knowledge according to the program, and in the second session, they will practice skills to dig deeper, explore more surrounding knowledge or participate in activities to integrate cultural knowledge into reality", Ms. Truc analyzed.

Similarly, Mr. Ha Huu Thach, Principal of Luong The Vinh Secondary and High School (District 1), said that the school has organized 2 sessions/day for many years now. In the second session, the school enhances the qualities and abilities of students with club activities such as academics, English, and STEM.

Mr. Thach shared that schools with enough classrooms and conditions for practical experiments and academic enhancement will be very favorable. As for schools with few classrooms and large numbers of students, they must apply flexibility and arrange appropriately.

The principal of a high school in District 3 said that at the beginning of each school year, the school conducts a survey and collects parents' opinions to organize the second session in the school, in the spirit of volunteerism. According to this person, every year the percentage of parents agreeing is 100% with the fee of 300,000 VND/student/month. The content of the second session program is specifically planned by the subject groups and explained and made public by the school for parents to understand.

Currently, secondary and high schools in Ho Chi Minh City are following the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training on teaching 2 sessions/day at secondary level of the 2006 General Education Program to create conditions for students to fully participate in the activities of the 2018 General Education Program. Therefore, schools still charge 2 sessions/day for subjects in the school program. (continued)

Recently, the Party Central Committee Office announced the conclusion of General Secretary To Lam requesting primary and secondary schools to organize 2 sessions/day depending on the conditions of each locality. There is a roadmap to gradually implement this policy, in which it is necessary to combine State investment with social incentives. The General Secretary emphasized that teaching 2 sessions/day is free of charge and reduces pressure on students, and enhances teaching about culture and arts to ensure comprehensive development for students. Implementation time is from the 2025-2026 school year.

Need appropriate mechanism and policy for TEACHERS teaching 2 sessions/day

According to Mr. Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, teaching 2 sessions/day aims to achieve the goal of comprehensive education, contributing to improving the quality of education, implementing teaching and learning innovation while meeting the needs of families and society in managing and educating students and enhancing life skills education... The 2-session/day program creates conditions for students to have a healthy environment to develop.

However, the physical facilities at schools in Ho Chi Minh City are still difficult and uneven. Many places still lack classrooms and teachers, especially teachers of music , fine arts, physical education, foreign languages, and information technology.

From there, the leaders of the Department of Education and Training proposed that the state should have appropriate mechanisms and policies for teachers teaching 2 sessions/day to implement the 2018 General Education Program, especially teachers teaching music, fine arts, physical education, foreign languages, and information technology.

In addition, another concern of the principals of secondary and high schools is that if the new school year implements 2 sessions/day without collecting fees, how will the school operate, and will the budget be enough to cover the expenses? Therefore, the schools are looking forward to having specific instructions on teaching 2 sessions/day in the new school year.

An official in charge of an education and training department in Ho Chi Minh City said that in order to organize 2 sessions/day of free teaching in secondary schools, specific instructions are needed. For example, what are the free-of-charge items, where does the budget for paying teachers and organizing activities come from? What subjects are taught in the 2nd session, which subjects are free, which subjects are socialized? How to teach without violating Circular 29 of the Ministry of Education and Training regulating extra teaching and learning?...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mien-hoc-phi-2-buoi-ngay-de-xuat-giai-phap-thuc-hien-185250509230355683.htm