Fun lessons with artists and athletes

In fact, over the years, many schools have had a team of permanent teachers who are singers, painters, athletes, or invited artists to come to school to organize educational activities.

N REFORMED OPERA AND OPERA ARTISTS RETURN TO SCHOOL

In mid-May 2025, the yard of Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School (Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) became an attractive destination with the participation of famous cai luong artists such as Trinh Trinh, Hoai Thanh, Thanh Long and Tu Quyen. The program School Stage - Shining Vietnamese History brought students moments of enjoying special art, especially the Trung Nu Vuong song performed by Meritorious Artist Trinh Trinh and Ho Thao Nhi, a 5th grade student.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Huong, Principal of Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, said that with school theater activities, reformed opera artists and students of all generations can exchange and create good works together. Students can approach national history in a new, vivid and easy-to-understand way, and love the history and traditional arts of the country more.

Many primary and secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City also regularly invite artists to perform, exchange, and organize school and children's theater. In December 2024, during the flag-salute ceremony, Tran Hung Dao Primary School (Cau Ong Lanh Ward) coordinated with the Ho Chi Minh City Opera Arts Theater to organize the program "School Theater", helping students better understand the traditional art of opera (a unique traditional theater art form of Vietnam, with a history dating back to the 13th century and strongly developed during the Tran Dynasty). When enjoying classic excerpts such as Tran Hung Dao Ra Quan , students were explained by artists about the meaning of the details in mask makeup. Many students were also invited to the stage to try basic movements such as horse riding, rowing, expressing emotions through voice and eyes, characteristics of opera.

At Tran Khanh Du Primary School (Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), the children's theater activity organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports and the City Youth Union in November 2024 brought special performances and lively performances by artists from singing, dancing, modern dance to circus performances, magic...

Cai luong artists performed and interacted with students of Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City

PHOTO: D.TH

In mid-May 2025, Nguyen Huu Tho High School (Xom Chieu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) held a school theater program with the participation of many artists.

Similarly, some high schools, although not organizing art subjects, proactively implement music and art subjects in the form of extracurricular or integrated subjects. This activity is carried out through coordination with music centers and art training units.

According to Mr. Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School (Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), inviting famous artists to interact with students is currently mainly an extracurricular activity, not regular, depending on the opportunities and flexibility of each school. However, if there is a clear mechanism and specific support budget from the education sector or local authorities, this activity can be organized regularly. Mr. Phu believes that for art to truly have a place in schools, a serious and systematic investment roadmap is needed starting from the primary level. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to have specific policies so that schools can proactively recruit or sign flexible contracts with subject teachers according to actual needs.

Many schools have singers and athletes who are also teachers.

Over the years, many schools have had a team of permanent teachers teaching music, art, and physical education who are also singers, artists, athletes, or even FIFA coaches and referees.

At Tran Khanh Du Primary School (Tan Dinh Ward), the school's music teacher is singer Ngoc Anh; the art teacher is painter Nguyen Thi Diem Chau; the physical education teacher is Mr. Mai Hoang Tien, a traditional martial arts coach. Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, the school's principal, said that when teachers who are both good at their profession and passionate about their profession, singers, painters, athletes, and coaches have many advantages in organizing teaching, organizing educational activities, and inspiring students with art and sports .

Mr. Tran Trung Son, former coach of the national Muay Thai team, is a physical education teacher at Ngo Gia Tu High School (Phu Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). Mr. Son's colleague at the school is Mr. Nguyen Huynh Nam, who was the assistant football coach of the Saigon Polytechnic College team at the 3rd Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament - 2025.

Ms. Cong Thi Dung, a BA in Physical Education, Hanoi National University of Education, has been a physical education teacher at Tu Lien Primary School (Hong Ha Ward, Hanoi) since 2004. She is a FIFA referee and has achieved Elite level - the highest level of FIFA refereeing. At the 2nd Vietnam Student Youth Football Tournament - 2024, she is a referee supervisor.

Another very famous female referee and referee supervisor in Vietnam is Ms. Truong Thi Le Trinh, a physical education teacher at Tan Tru High School, Tan Tru Commune, Tay Ninh (formerly Long An Province) from 2009 to present.

Being good at their profession, loving teaching, participating in many tournaments, athletes, coaches, referees, and referee supervisors share their knowledge and experience accumulated from participating in sports tournaments as important learning resources. In physical education classes, they not only teach about their profession but also discover talents, share and strongly inspire students, so that students always have more motivation and goals to strive for.

Singer Ngoc Anh (right) is also a music teacher and Ms. Diem Chau (left), painter, art teacher at Tran Khanh Du Primary School, Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City with her students

PHOTO: NVCC

NEED TO ASSESS AND CHECK

According to Master Nguyen Dinh Tinh, Deputy Head of the Basic Department, Ho Chi Minh City Central Pedagogical College, when invited to teach, artists and athletes must also participate in developing the outline, program, and teaching plan of the subjects, ensuring consistency in teaching content with the 2018 General Education Program and the school's education plan, helping students have a regular and long-term study plan.

"When inviting artists and athletes to teach in high schools, schools also need to check and evaluate through observing professional teachers, and get feedback from students and parents to make timely adjustments to both the staff and the curriculum," said Master Tinh.

According to Mr. Le Minh Phuoc, Head of the Music Department, Faculty of Primary and Preschool Education, Dong Nai University, if participating, NS needs to research the specifics of the industry to have an effective direction for educational activities, in order to achieve the goals set by the program.

Artists in the school theater program

PHOTO: PHUONG HA

It can be seen that the implementation of music, fine arts and sports in the 2018 general education program in high schools is still in the process of finding a suitable model. To ensure the right to study and comprehensive development for students, and at the same time to properly implement the spirit of program innovation, it is necessary to make policy adjustments, including flexible mechanisms in class organization, teacher staffing and interdisciplinary coordination models, to solve current difficulties and encourage students to approach art subjects in a more practical and effective way.

Where does the funding come from?

Mr. Ho Ngoc Khai, Editor-in-Chief of Music textbooks (Creative Horizon series), Head of the Department of Art and Physical Education, Faculty of Primary Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, said: "If NS is invited to teach classes in schools according to the official curriculum, the school will use the state budget to pay. If NS participates in teaching gifted clubs, the funding will be socialized with contributions from parents but must ensure the regulations of the state or competent authorities". Therefore, Mr. Khai proposed that in order for art education activities in primary schools to be meaningful and ensure quality, priority should be given to on-site teachers or teachers from neighboring units.

Master Nguyen Dinh Tinh said that in terms of funding to invite artists and athletes to teach, the state budget can be used. In addition, it is possible to socialize education by calling for voluntary contributions from parents or cooperating with local businesses, calling for sponsors of equipment such as specialized rooms, musical instruments, sports equipment, and art supplies.

Thuy Hang

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-tiet-hoc-thu-vi-cung-nghe-si-van-dong-vien-185250807174745361.htm